refrain: I forbid ye maidens all who let fly your lovely hair to go down to Carterhaugh for young Tam Lin is there
Janet tied her kirtle green above her knee and not below and she's gone to carterhaugh just as fast as she can go
She's come to the roses growing wild she's pulled a single one when a wild young man appears and cries 'O, lady, let alone!
'How dare you pull my roses out, How dare you break my tree How dare you run in these green woods Without asking leave of me?'
Says Janet fair 'this wood's my own My father gave it me And I can pluck myself a rose Without asking leave of thee.'
Bold as brass, he takes her hand and color rises to her skin She looks the young man in the eye and knows him now for young Tam Lin.
**refrain**
Janet holds her petticoats well above her dirty knee and she's gone to her father's hall just as fast as she can hie.
All the ladies of the court at their play turn red as rose except for Janet, fainting fast, green as growing grass she goes
Out then speaks her father dear, doting, caring, meek and mild. 'Janet, darling daughter mine, I fear you go with child.'
'Father, if I be with child, be sure myself shall bear the blame. There's not a knight within your hall shall get the baby's name. Father, if I be with child, 'twill prove a wondrous birth for well I swear it's not the get of any mortal man on earth.'
**refrain**
Janet's tied her kirtle green When near nine months are gone And she's away to Carterhaugh, To speak with young Tam Lin.
But young Tam Lin will not be found and Janet's in despair to the forest floor she falls and swift her lover catches her
Janet asks 'Tam Lin, my love, why is it in these woods you hide?' 'The queen of faeries stole me hence, alas, when I was but a child.
'My lordly sire was a skillful man and hunting he loved well but I was prey for the faerie Queen when from my horse I fell.
'Ever since, in yon green hill, with the Queen I'm bound to dwell I'd never tire of living there for Faerie does me well
'But at the end of seven years, the queen doth pay a tithe to hell I am so fair and full of flesh, I fear 'twill be myself.'
**refrain**
Tonight's the night of Halloween, and the fairy court will ride; And she that would her true love win at Miles Cross must bide.
'But how shall I thee ken, Tam-lin? Or how shall I thee know? Amang a troupe of faerie knights, The like I never saw?'
'First let pass the horses black then let pass the brown Run ye to the milk white steed and pull that rider down.
'They will change me in your arms into a deadly adder but hold me fast and fear me not I am the baby's father
'They will change me in your arms into a bear or lion bold but hold me fast and fear me not I am the father of your child
'At last they'll change me in your arms into a naked knight. Then cast your mantle over me and keep me out of sight.'
**refrain**
Gloomy, gloomy, was the night, And eery was the way, As Janet in her mantle green To Miles Cross did hie.
The heavens dressed in baleful black and all was silent as the grave, But Janet waited in the dark Her own true love to save.
Betwixt the hour of twelve and one, the north wind blew and tore and rent she heard the elfin bridles ring upon the wind where e'er it went
Janet stood, with mind unmoved, The gloomy heath upon, And louder, louder rang the bells, As the fairy court came riding on.