Now playing

Tam Lin

Chords

4.918 votes

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

Eminor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Verse]
EmI forbDid you maidens, GalEml that wDear gold in your Emhair
EmTo travel Dto GCarterhaEmugh for Dyoung Tam Lin is Emthere
[Riff]
e|-------------------------|
B|-------------------------|
G|—0-–2--0-----------------|
D|----------2––0-----0-—2--|
A|---------------—2--------|
E|-------------------------|
EmNone that Dgo by GCarterhaEmugh but Dthey leave him a Empledge
EmEither Dtheir mantles of GgreEmen or eDlse their maidenEmhead
[Riff]
EmJanet Dtied her kirtle GgreEmen a Dbit above her Emknee
EmAnd she's Dgone to GCarterhaEmugh as Dfast as gold can Emsheen
[Riff]
EmShe'd not Dpulled a double GrosEme, a Drose but only Emtwo
EmWhen up then Dcame young GTam LEmin, says “DLady, pull no Emmore”
[Riff]
Em"And why Dcome you to GCarterhaEmugh without Dcommand from Emme?"
Em"I'll come and Dgo", young Janet GsaiEmd, "and Dask no leave of Emthee”
[Riff]
EmJanet Dtied her kirtle GgreEmen a Dbit above her Emknee
EmAnd she's Dgone to her fGathEmer as Dfast as gold can Emsheen
[Riff]
EmWell, up then Dspoke her father GdeaEmr and he Dspoke meek and Emmild
Em"Oh, and Dalas, Janet,” he GsaiEmd, "I Dthink you go with Emchild”
[Riff]
Em"Well, if that be Dso," Janet GsaEmid, "Dmyself shall bear the Emblame
EmThere's not a Dknight in all your GhaEmll shall Dget the baby's Emname”
[Riff]
EmFor if my Dlove were an earthly GkniEmght as Dhe is an elfin Emgrey
EmI'd not Dchange my own true GlovEme for Dany knight you Emhave”
[Riff]
EmJanet Dtied her kirtle GgreEmen a Dbit above her Emknee
EmAnd she's Dgone to GCarterhaEmugh as Dfast as gold can Emsheen
[Riff]
Em"Oh, tell to Dme, Tam Lin," she GsaEmid, "Dwhy came you here to Emdwell?”
Em"The Queen of DFaeries caughGt mEme  wDhen from my horse I Emfell
[Riff]
EmAnd at the Dend of seven GyeaEmrs she Dpays a tithe to EmHell
EmI so fDair and full of GfleEmsh and Dfeared it be Emmyself
[Riff]
EmBut Dtonight is HallGowe'Emen and the Dfaerie folk Emride
EmThose that Dwould their true love GwiEmn at MDiles Cross they must Emhide
[Riff]
EmFirst let Dpast the horses GblaEmck and Dthen let past the Embrown
EmQuickly Drun to the white GsteEmed and Dpull the rider Emdown
[Riff]
EmFor I'll Dride on the white GsteEmed, the Dnearest to the Emtown
EmFor I Dwas an earthly GkniEmght, they Dgive me that Emrenown
[Riff]
EmOh, they will Dturn me in your GarmEms to a Dnewt or a Emsnake
EmBut hold me Dtight and fear GnoEmt, I Dam your baby’s Emfather
[Riff]
EmAnd they will Dturn me in your GarEmms  Dinto a lion Embold
EmBut hold me Dtight and fear GnoEmt and Dyou will love your Emchild
[Riff]
EmAnd they will Dturn me in your GarmEms into Da naked Emknight
EmBut cloak me Din your GmanEmtle and Dkeep me out of Emsight”
[Riff]
EmIn the Dmiddle of the  GnigEmht she Dheard the bridle Emring
EmShe heeded Dwhat he did GsaEmy and Dyoung Tam Lin did Emwin
[Riff]
EmThen up Dspoke the Faerie GQueEmen, an Dangry queen was Emshe
Em"Woe beDtide her ill fared GfaEmce, an Dill death may she Emdie"
[Riff]
Em"Oh, had I Dknown, Tam Lin," she GsaEmid, "what Dthis night I did Emsee
EmI'd have Dlooked him in the GeyEmes and Dturned him to a Emtree
[Riff] x2

All chords in this song (3)

Open

O22OOO

Minor chord - Sad, melancholic sound

✕ Mute Open Press

Skill · find home

E minor

This chord is home. When a line ends, land here.

Tam Lin

🎸 Tips from players

Got a tip for playing this song — capo position, easier chords, strumming? Be the first to share one.

Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

Tam Lin

by Fairport Convention

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Verse]

Em D G Em D Em

I forbid you maidens, all that wear gold in your hair

Em D G Em D Em

To travel to Carterhaugh for young Tam Lin is there

[Riff]

e|-------------------------|

B|-------------------------|

G|—0-–2--0-----------------|

D|----------2––0-----0-—2--|

A|---------------—2--------|

E|-------------------------|

Em D G Em D Em

None that go by Carterhaugh but they leave him a pledge

Em D G Em D Em

Either their mantles of green or else their maidenhead

[Riff]

Em D G Em D Em

Janet tied her kirtle green a bit above her knee

Em D G Em D Em

And she's gone to Carterhaugh as fast as gold can sheen

[Riff]

Em D G Em D Em

She'd not pulled a double rose, a rose but only two

Em D G Em D Em

When up then came young Tam Lin, says “Lady, pull no more”

[Riff]

Em D G Em D Em

"And why come you to Carterhaugh without command from me?"

Em D G Em D Em

"I'll come and go", young Janet said, "and ask no leave of thee”

[Riff]

Em D G Em D Em

Janet tied her kirtle green a bit above her knee

Em D G Em D Em

And she's gone to her father as fast as gold can sheen

[Riff]

Em D G Em D Em

Well, up then spoke her father dear and he spoke meek and mild

Em D G Em D Em

"Oh, and alas, Janet,” he said, "I think you go with child”

[Riff]

Em D G Em D Em

"Well, if that be so," Janet said, "myself shall bear the blame

Em D G Em D Em

There's not a knight in all your hall shall get the baby's name”

[Riff]

Em D G Em D Em

For if my love were an earthly knight as he is an elfin grey

Em D G Em D Em

I'd not change my own true love for any knight you have”

[Riff]

Em D G Em D Em

Janet tied her kirtle green a bit above her knee

Em D G Em D Em

And she's gone to Carterhaugh as fast as gold can sheen

[Riff]

Em D G Em D Em

"Oh, tell to me, Tam Lin," she said, "why came you here to dwell?”

Em D G Em D Em

"The Queen of Faeries caught me when from my horse I fell

[Riff]

Em D G Em D Em

And at the end of seven years she pays a tithe to Hell

Em D G Em D Em

I so fair and full of flesh and feared it be myself

[Riff]

Em D G Em D Em

But tonight is Hallowe'en and the faerie folk ride

Em D G Em D Em

Those that would their true love win at Miles Cross they must hide

[Riff]

Em D G Em D Em

First let past the horses black and then let past the brown

Em D G Em D Em

Quickly run to the white steed and pull the rider down

[Riff]

Em D G Em D Em

For I'll ride on the white steed, the nearest to the town

Em D G Em D Em

For I was an earthly knight, they give me that renown

[Riff]

Em D G Em D Em

Oh, they will turn me in your arms to a newt or a snake

Em D G Em D Em

But hold me tight and fear not, I am your baby’s father

[Riff]

Em D G Em D Em

And they will turn me in your arms into a lion bold

Em D G Em D Em

But hold me tight and fear not and you will love your child

[Riff]

Em D G Em D Em

And they will turn me in your arms into a naked knight

Em D G Em D Em

But cloak me in your mantle and keep me out of sight”

[Riff]

Em D G Em D Em

In the middle of the night she heard the bridle ring

Em D G Em D Em

She heeded what he did say and young Tam Lin did win

[Riff]

Em D G Em D Em

Then up spoke the Faerie Queen, an angry queen was she

Em D G Em D Em

"Woe betide her ill fared face, an ill death may she die"

[Riff]

Em D G Em D Em

"Oh, had I known, Tam Lin," she said, "what this night I did see

Em D G Em D Em

I'd have looked him in the eyes and turned him to a tree

[Riff] x2

About Tam Lin Chords by Fairport Convention

Learn how to play Tam Lin by Fairport Convention with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Tam Lin chords”, “Tam Lin guitar chords”, or “Fairport Convention Tam Lin chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Tam Lin chords and for experienced players who want accurate Tam Lin lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Em, D, G, B, A, E.

FAQ — Tam Lin by Fairport Convention

How do I play "Tam Lin" by Fairport Convention on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Tam Lin" by Fairport Convention on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Tam Lin" by Fairport Convention free?

Yes. The chords for "Tam Lin" by Fairport Convention are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Tam Lin" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Tam Lin" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Tam Lin"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Tam Lin" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Tam Lin" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Tam Lin" by Fairport Convention with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Fairport Convention below.

What key is "Tam Lin" in?

The chords for "Tam Lin" show the original chord names (including Em, D, G, B, A, E). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.