Scarborough Fair

The song 'Scarborough Fair,' performed by Sarah Brightman, is a rendition of a traditional English ballad that dates back to the late medieval period. The lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia and unattainable love through the use of a recurring refrain that mentions the herbs parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. These herbs traditionally symbolize various human emotions and qualities, which adds layers of meaning to the song.

The narrative of the song revolves around a speaker asking a listener if they are going to Scarborough Fair and to remember them to a former love who lives there. The speaker then sets out a series of impossible tasks for this former lover to complete, suggesting that only upon their completion will he be a 'true love' of the speaker. The tasks, such as making a shirt without seams or needlework and finding an acre of land between the sea and the shore, are clearly unfeasible, hinting at the idea that the love they once shared is now just as impossible to reclaim.

Sarah Brightman's ethereal voice and the haunting melody give the song a timeless quality, emphasizing the universal theme of lost love and the longing for what cannot be. The refrain with the herbs serves as a poignant reminder of the bittersweet memories associated with love and the passage of time. The song, with its blend of melancholy and beauty, invites listeners to reflect on their own experiences of love and loss.