Lyrics: Discovery

Discovery

I know your face, little rose
But I don't know your mind
You know your place, little rose
But you cannot read the signs
Aren't you arrogant
Putting on airs
I watch you from the bower
You do not sense that I am there.

Come into my garden
Sings the elf-knight to the maid
Lilies, willows, roses,
And your innocence betrayed
Reach for that red rose, my dear
A rose but barely one
And I will be your love, my dear
And all your life undone.

You see my steed, little rose
But you don't see my face
I watch your feet, little rose
Gauge your reckless girl's pace
Aren't you beautiful
So sweet and pure
You reach out one dainty hand
I sit and see my fate secured.

Come into my garden
Sings the elf-knight to the maid
Lilies, willows, roses
And your innocence betrayed
Reach for that red rose, my dear
A rose but barely two
And I will be your love, my dear
And be the end of you.

My eyes consume, little rose
I am charmed by your smile
You hold my blooms, little rose
You're so easy to beguile
Aren't you mesmerized
As you stare, unafraid?
I'll lead you to my leafy close
And you will be no more a maid

Come into my garden
Sings the elf-knight to the maid
Lilies, willows, roses
And your innocence betrayed
Reach for that red rose, my dear
A rose but barely three
And I will be your love, my dear
And you'll belong to me.

Tag:
You are bound for ordeals
You will never understand
For I have learned some tricks
While I have lived in fair Elfland.

So many of you know that I am and have been for awhile obsessed with the story of Tam Lin. It's my favorite of the big ballads. You can find out more about the ballad itself at The Tam Lin Pages. This song is a slice-of-life view of the moments leading up to when Janet and Tam Lin actually meet, a very short scene in the ballad. I was thinking about how so many analyses of the ballad and so many books that have been written about it focus on plucky Janet and her tenaciousness in hanging on to her lover through thick and thin. But what about Tam Lin? He's got an agenda, himself; he would like to save his life. Now, I know Janet is headstrong and reckless; the ballads all say that. But it takes more than a little recklessness to make a girl get herself knocked up and then place herself in between her true love and the Queen of Elfland. Tam Lin has something up his sleeve, doesn't he? Gotta be the roses.


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