Meaning of "Scarborough Fair" by Gregorian

"Scarborough Fair" by Gregorian is a rendition of the traditional English folk ballad, which tells a story of love and longing. The lyrics depict a conversation between the narrator and someone who is planning to go to Scarborough Fair, a medieval market fair held in Scarborough, England. The narrator requests that the traveler passes on a message to someone who lives there, most likely a past lover. Each verse consists of the narrator asking the traveler to deliver a specific request, symbolizing the narrator's unrequited love and longing for their lost love.

The repetition of the herbs parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme throughout the song is significant. These herbs were commonly associated with symbolic meanings in medieval times. Parsley represents comfort, sage represents wisdom, rosemary represents remembrance, and thyme represents courage and strength. By incorporating these herbs, the lyrics convey the narrator's desire for the recipient to remember them and the intensity of their emotions.

The requests made by the narrator also hold symbolic significance. The cambric shirt without seams or needlework represents a symbol of purity and devotion, indicating the narrator's wish for a love that is unblemished and flawlessly stitched. The demand for an acre of land between the saltwater and the sea strands symbolizes the narrator's desire for a place where they can be reunited with their love, somewhere vast and eternal.

Furthermore, the sickle of leather used to reap the land and the bunch of heather used to bind it form an image of labor and commitment. This signifies the narrator's willingness to put in the effort and dedication required for a lasting relationship. Overall, the song's meaning revolves around longing, nostalgia, and an unfulfilled desire for a lost love, conveyed through the traditional folk ballad style.