> Steeleye Span > Songs > Thomas the Rhymer
Thomas the Rhymer / True Thomas
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Thomas the Rhymer /
The Mooncoin Jig Chrysalis CHS 2026 (single, UK, February 1974) |
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[
Roud 219
; Child 37
; Ballad Index C037
; trad.]
This traditional song (which is also known as True Thomas) was released by Steeleye Span as a single with 5 verses running 3.14 with the B-side The Mooncoin Jig and as an 11 verse LP version running 6.44. This version was included in the original release of the Chrysalis UK LP Now We Are Six. However, most reissues of this record contain the shorter single version of Thomas the Rhymer with the exception of the BGO CD reissue. See the notes to Now We Are Six for details.
Thomas the Rhymer was also re-released on several compilations, among others on Original Masters (on the LP the long, on the CD reissue the short version), on Spanning the Years (short version) and on A Rare Collection 1972-1996 (long version).
At least five live recordings of Thomas the Rhymer with several Steeleye Span line-ups are or were available:
- from the Royal Opera Theatre in Adelaide, Australia in 1982 on the Australian-only LP On Tour,
- from Perth Concert Hall in 1985 on the CD Gone to Australia,
- from the Beck Theatre on September 16, 1989 on the video A 20th Anniversary Celebration,
- a March 1997 live recording from a British tour was released as bonus track on the Park Records' CD reissue of Sails of Silver,
- and from The Forum, London on September 2, 1995 on the CD The Journey.
Steeleye Span recorded this song for a second time for the CD Present to accompany the December 2002 reunion tour.
Lyrics
Long (LP) version
True Thomas sat on Huntley bank
And he beheld a lady gay
A lady that was brisk and bold
Come riding o'er the ferny brae
Her skirt was of the grass green silk,
Her mantle of the velvet fine
At every lock of her horse's mane
Hung fifty silver bells and nine
True Thomas, he pulled off his cap
And bowed him low down to his knee
“All hail, thou mighty Queen of Heaven
Your like on earth I ne'er did see.”
“No, no, Thomas,” she said,
“That name does not belong to me
I am the queen of fair Elfland
And I have come to visit thee.”
“You must go with me, Thomas,” she said,
“True Thomas, you must go with me
And must serve me seven years
Through well or woe, as chance may be.”
- Chorus:
- Hark and carp, come along with me,
Thomas the Rhymer
(4 times)
She turned about her milk white steed
And took Thomas up behind
And aye whenever her bridle rang
Her steed flew swifter than the wind
For forty days and forty nights
They rode through red blood to the knee
And they saw neither sun nor moon
But heard the roaring of the sea
And they rode on and further on
Further and swifter than the wind
Until they came to a desert wide
And living land was left behind
“Don't you see yon narrow, narrow road
So thick beset with thorns and briars?
That is the road to righteousness
Though after it but few enquire.”
“Don't you see yon broad, broad road
That lies across the lily leaven?
That is the road to wickedness
Though some call it the road to heaven.”
“Don't you see yon bonnie, bonnie road
That lies across the ferny brae?
That is the road to fair Elfland
Where you and I this night must go.”
Chorus
Short (Single) version
True Thomas sat on Huntley bank
And he beheld a lady gay
A lady that was brisk and bold
Come riding o'er the ferny brae
True Thomas, he pulled off his cap
And bowed him low down to his knee
“All hail, thou mighty Queen of Heaven
Your like on earth I ne'er did see.”
- Chorus:
- Hark and carp, come along with me,
Thomas the Rhymer
(4 times)
She turned about her milk white steed
And they rode faster than the wind
Until they came to a desert wide
And living land was left behind
For forty days and forty nights
They rode through red blood to their knee
And they saw neither sun nor moon
but heard the roaring of the sea
“Don't you see yon bonnie, bonnie road
That lies across the ferny brae?
That is the road to fair Elfland
Where you and I this night must go.”
Chorus