Tam Lin
View chords used in this chart
Afinação: E A D G B ECapotraste: Sem capotraste
[Introduction]
C
[Verse-A 1]
C F
Oh, I forbid you maidens all
C G
That wear gold in your hair
C F
To come or go by Carterhaugh
C C
For young Tam Lin is there.
[Verse-A 2]
C F
If you go by Carterhaugh
C G
You must leave him a ward:
C F
Either your rings or green mantle
C
Or else your maidenhead.
[Verse-A 3]
C F
She’s away o’er gravel green
C G
And o’er the gravel brown;
C F
She’s away to Carterhaugh
C
To flower herself a gown.
[Verse-A 4]
C F
She had not pulled a rosy rose,
C G
A rose but barely one,
C F
When by came this brisk young man,
C
Says, "Lady, let alone.
[Bridge-A 1]
Bb F
How dare you pull my rose, Madam?
C G
How dare you break my tree?
Bb F
How dare you come to Carterhaugh
C G
Without the leave of me?"
[Verse-A 5]
C F
"Well may I pull the rose," she said,
C G
"Well may I break the tree.
C F
For Carterhaugh is my father’s,
C
I’ll ask no leave of thee."
[Chorus]
C F C G
Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
C F C G C
Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
[Verse-A 6]
C F
He’s taken her by the milk-white hand
C G
And there he’s laid her down,
C F
And there he asked no leave of her
C
As she lay on the ground.
[Verse-A 7]
C F
"Oh tell me, tell me," then she said,
C G
"Oh tell me who art thee?"
C F
"My name it is Tam Lin," he said,
C
"And this is my story:
[Bridge-A 2]
Bb F
As it fell out upon a day,
C G
A-hunting I did ride;
Bb F
There came a wind out of the north
C G
And woe it did betide.
[Verse-A 8]
C F
And drowsy, drowsy as I was,
C G
The sleep upon me fell;
C F
The Queen of Fairies she was there,
C
And took me to herself.
[Chorus]
C F C G
Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
C F C G C
Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
[Instrumental-A]
(as Verse-A and Bridge-A)
C F | C G
C F | C
C F | C G
C F | C
Bb F | C G
Bb F | C G
C F | C G
C F | C
[Bridge-A 3]
Bb F
At the end of every seven years
C G
They pay a tithe to Hell;
Bb F
And I’m so fain and full of flesh,
C G
I fear ’t will be myself.
[Verse-A 9]
C F
Tonight it is good Halloween,
C G
The fairy court will ride;
C F
And if you would your true love win,
C
At Mile’s Cross, you must bide."
[Chorus*]
C F C G
Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
C F C G
Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
C F C G
Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
[Bridge-B 4]
E
[Verse-B 1]
E
Gloomy was the night
E
And eerie was the way;
G D
This lady in her green mantle
D C
To Mile’s Cross she did go.
C G
With the holy water in her hand
A C
She cast the compass round;
C G
At twelve o’clock the fairy court
A
Came riding o’er the bound.
[Verse-B 2]
E
First came by the black steed
E
And then came by the brown,
G D
Then Tam Lin on a milk-white steed
D C
With a gold star in his crown.
C G
She’s pulled him down into her arms
A C
And let the bridle fall;
C G
The Queen of Fairies she cried out,
A
"Young Tam Lin is awa."
[Verse-B 3]
E
They’ve shaped him in her arms,
E
To an adder or a snake;
G D
She’s held him fast and feared him not
D C
To be her earthly mate.
C G
They’ve shaped him in her arms again
A C
To fire burning bold;
C G
She’s held him fast and feared him not
A
Till he was iron cold.
[Verse-B 4]
E
They’ve shaped him in her arms
E
To a wood black dog so wild;
G D
She’s held him fast and feared him not,
D C
The father of her child.
C G
They’ve shaped him in her arms at last
A C
Into a naked man;
C G
She’s wrapped him in the green mantle
A
And knew that she had him won.
[Instrumental-B]
(as Verse-B)
E | E
G D | D C
C G | A C
C G
The Queen of Fairies she cried out,
A
"Young Tam Lin is awa."
[Bridge-C]
A C
[Verse-C 1]
C C C/B Am
Had I known, had I known, Tam Lin,
Am C
Long before, long before you came from home,
C G
Had I known, I would have taken out your heart
D7sus2 Am
And put in a heart of stone.
C G D7sus2 Am
[Verse-C 2]
C C C/B Am
Had I known, had I known, Tam Lin,
Am C
That a lady, a lady would steal thee,
C G
Had I known, I would have taken out your eyes
D7sus2 Am
And put in two from a tree.
C G D7sus2 Am
[Verse-C 3]
C C C/B Am
Had I known, had I known, Tam Lin,
Am C
That I would lose, that I would lose the day,
C G
Had I known, I would have paid my tithe to hell
D7sus2 Am
Before you’d been won away.
How to play Tam Lin
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is E. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.