> 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.]
James Kinsley: The Oxford Book of Ballads. Sir Walter Scott: Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border
Thomas the Rhymer or True Thomas is a ballad about the medieval prophet Thomas of Ercildoune. He meets the Queen of Elfland who takes him away from earth for seven years, putting him through various rituals which no doubt instil his prophetic powers.
Carl Loewe set this ballad to music as Tom der Reimer (op. 135a, ca. 1860).
Ewan MacColl sang Thomas Rhymer in 1956 on his and A.L. Lloyd’s Riverside anthology The English and Scottish Popular Ballads (The Child Ballads) Volume I. This and 28 other ballads from this series were reissued in 2009 on MacColl’s Topic CD Ballads: Murder·Intrigue·Love·Discord. He also sang Thomas Rymour on his 1961 Folkways album of Child Ballads, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads: Vol. 1.
The latter album’s notes commented:Thomas of Erceldoune, the 13th Century poet, was author of a long poem describing a visit to Elfland and the supernatural events which took place there. The poem served as a basis for the 15th century romance which, in turn, probably provided the raw material for this ballad.
Child published 3 texts.
Learned from print
Steeleye Span released their recording of Thomas the Rhymer in 1974 in two different versions: a short one (3.14) with just five verses as a single with the B-Side The Mooncoin Jig and a long version (6.44) on the original Chrysalis UK release of their 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 Steeleye Span compilations, among others on Original Masters (on the 1977 LP the long, on the 1997 CD reissue the short version), on Spanning the Years (1995, short version) and on A Rare Collection 1972-1996 (1999, 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 their Australian-only LP On Tour,
- from Perth Concert Hall in 1985 on their CD Gone to Australia,
- from the Beck Theatre on 16 September 1989 on the video A 20th Anniversary Celebration,
- a March 1997 live recording from a British tour was released as bonus track on Park Records’ CD reissue of Sails of Silver,
- and from The Forum, London on 2 September 1995 on their CD The Journey.
Steeleye Span recorded this song for a second time for their CD Present to accompany their December 2002 reunion tour.
Archie Fisher sang Thomas the Rhymer in a 1998 BBC radio performance. This recording was included in 2017 on the Appalachian ballad tradition anthology Big Bend Killing.
Scottish traveller Duncan Williamson told the story of Thomas the Rhymer on his 1987 Springthyme cassette Mary and the Seal. He sang Thomas the Rhymer at home in Fife in August 1991 to John Howson. This recording was released in 2014 on his Veteran album Put Another Log on the Fire. The album notes said that
Thomas the Rhymer was sung by his Uncle Sandy Townsley, a cousin of Duncan’s mother, who travelled much of the time in Aberdeenshire.
Mary Macmaster sang True Thomas in 1991 on Sileas’ cassette File Under Christmas and in 1995 on Clan Alba’s eponymous and only CD, Clan Alba.
Ron Taylor and Jeff Gillett sang Thomas the Rhymer in 2006 on their WildGoose CD Both Shine as One. This track was also include in 2007 on the WildGoose anthology Songs of Witchcraft and Magic. They noted:
Thomas Rymour apparently lived in Ercildoune in the 13th Century, although the historicity of the journey described in this song is surely open to question. Published in Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border. This version was collated from various sources and Anglicised.
Alison McMorland sang Thomas Rhymer in 2010 on her and Geordie McIntyre’s CD Where Ravens Reel, and she sang Thomas Rymer & Queen of Elfland on her 2024 album Some Ballads of Anna Gordon, Mrs. Brown of Falkland.
Rosaleen Gregory sang Thomas the Rhymer in 2012 on her first album of Child ballads, Sheath and Knife. She noted:
Thomas the Rhymer, alias Thomas of Ercildoune, was a 13th century Scottish seer, but whether he got his celebrated gift of prophecy from this meeting with the Queen of Elfland is hard to say. The Eildon Hills, including the Eildon Tree and Huntlie Bank, are located not far from the ancestral home of another weaver of word magic, the poet and novelist Sir Walter Scott of Abbotsford, who lived there in the early 19th century and himself hunted for traditional songs and ballads.
Cara sang True Thomas on their 2021 CD Grounded. They noted:
Gudrun [Walther]’s take on the tale about Sir Thomas de Ercildoun or “Thomas the Rhymer”, who was a Scottish laird (1220-1289). He is said to have had the “gift of prophecy” and there are numerous tales and ballads about his encounter with the Queen of Elfland. Set to a new tune.
Lyrics
Ewan MacColl sings Thomas Rhymer
True Thomas lay on Huntlie bank,
A ferlie he spied wi’ his e’e,
And there he saw a lady bright
Come riding down by the Eildon tree.
Her skirt was o’ the grass-green silk,
Her mantle o’ the velvet fyne.
At ilka tett o’ her horse’s mane
Hung fifty siller bells and nine.
True Thomas he pull’s aff his cap
And louted low down to his knee:
“All hail, thou mighty Queen o’ Heaven!
For thy peer on earth I never did see.”
“O no, o no, Thomas,” she said,
“That name does not belong to me;
I am but the queen of fair Elfland
That am hither come to visit thee.”
“Harp and carp, Thomas,” she said,
“Harp and carp along wi’ me.
And if ye dare to kiss my lips,
Sure of your body I will be.”
“Betide me weal, betide me woe,
That weird shall never daunton me.”
Syne he has kissed her rosy lips
All underneath the Eildon tree.
“Now ye maun gang wi’ me,” she said,
“True Thomas, ye maun gang wi’ me.
And ye maun serve me seven years
Thro’ weal and woe, as may chance to be.”
She mounted on her milk-white steed,
She’s ta’en True Thomas up behind.
And aye whene’er her bridle rung
The steed flew faster than the wind.
O they rode on and farther on,
The steed gaed swifter than the wind,
Until they reached a desert wide
And living land was left behind.
“Light down, light down now, True Thomas
And lean your head upon my knee,
Abide and rest a little space
And I will show you ferlies three.
“O see ye not yon narrow road
So thick beset with thorns and briars?
That is the path of righteousness,
Tho’ after it but few enquires.
“And see ye not that braid, braid road
That lies across that lily leven?
That is the path of wickedness,
Tho’ some ca’ it the road to heaven.
“And see ye not that bonny road
That winds about the fernie brae?
That is the road to fair Elfland
Where thou and I this night maun gae.
“But, Thomas, ye maun hold your tongue
Whatever ye may hear or see.
For if you speak word in Elfyn land
Ye’ll ne’er get back to your ain countrie.”
Syne they came on to a garden green,
And she pu’d an apple frae a tree:
“Take this for thy wages, True Thomas
It will gi’ ye the tongue that can never lie.”
“My tongue is mine ain,” True Thomas said,
“A guidly gift ye wad gie to me!
I neither dought to buy or sell,
At fair or tryst where I may be.
“I dought neither speak to prince or peer
Nor ask of grace from fair ladye.”
“Now hold thy peace,”, the lady said,
“For as I say, so must it be.”
He has gotten a coat of the even cloth
And a pair of shune of velvet green,
And till seven years were gane and past
True Thomas on earth was never seen.
Steeleye Span sings Thomas the Rhymer (LP version)
True Thomas sat on Huntly 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.”
4× Chorus:
Hark and carp, come along with me,
Thomas the Rhymer
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 bonny, Boone road
That lies across the ferny brae?
That is the road to fair Elfland
Where you and I this night must go.”
4× Chorus
Steeleye Span sings Thomas the Rhymer (single version)
True Thomas sat on Huntly 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.”
4× Chorus:
Hark and carp, come along with me,
Thomas the Rhymer
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 bone, Bonn road
That lies across the ferny brae?
That is the road to fair Elfland
Where you and I this night must go.”
4× Chorus
Ron Taylor and Jeff Gillett sing Thomas the Rhymer
True Thomas sat on Huntlie bank,
A ferlie spied he with his eye,
And he beheld a lady bright,
Come riding down by the Eildon Tree.
Her shirt was of the grass-green silk,
Her mantle of the velvet fine,
And at every lock of her horse’s mane
Hung fifty silver bells and nine.
True Thomas he took off his hat,
And fell down low unto the knee:
“All hail, thou mighty Queen of Heaven!
Thy like on earth I ne’er did see!”
“O no, O no, Thomas!” she said,
“That name does not belong to me.
I’m but the Queen of fair Elfland,
And hither come for to visit thee.
“O harp and carp, Thomas,” she said,
“O harp and carp along with me;
And if ye dare to kiss my lips,
Sure of your body I will be.”
“Betide me well, betide me woe,
That weird shall never daunten me!”
And he has kissed her rosy lips,
All underneath the Eildon Tree.
She’s turned about the milk-white steed,
And taken Thomas up behind,
And aye whene’er the bridle rang,
The steed flew swifter than the wind.
For forty days and forty nights
They waded 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,
The steed flew swifter than the wind,
Until they came to a desert wide,
And living land was left behind.
“Light down, light down, Thomas,” she said,
“And lay your head upon my knee.
Abide and rest a little space,
And I will show you wonders three.
“And see ye not yon narrow road,
So thick beset with thorn and briers?
That is the path to righteousness,
Though after it but few enquires.
“And see ye not that broad, broad road,
That lies across the lily leven?
That is the path of wickedness,
Though some do call it the road to heaven.
“And see ye not that bonny road,
That winds across the ferny brae?
That is the road to fair Elfland,
Where you and I this night must stay.
“But Thomas, you must hold your tongue,
Whatever you may hear or see,
For if you speak a word in fair Elfland,
You’ll never get back to your own country.”
And then they came to a garden green,
She’s pulled an apple from the tree:
“Take this for wages, True Thomas,
It’ll give thee a tongue that can never lie.”
“My tongue’s my own,” True Thomas said;
“A goodly gift ye would give to me!
I’d neither dare to buy or sell,
At fair or tryst where I might be.
And I’d dare not speak to prince or peer,
Nor ask of grace from fair lady.”
“Now hold your peace!” the lady said,
“For as I say, so must it be!
But Thomas, you must hold your tongue,
Whatever you may hear or see,
For if you speak a word in fair Elfland,
You’ll never get back to your own country.”
He’s gotten a coat of the elven cloth,
And shoes all of the velvet green,
And e’er seven long years were past and gone
True Thomas on earth was never seen.
Cara sing True Thomas
Thomas lay on Huntley bank, a noble laird was he,
There he spied a lady fair, down by the Eildon tree.
Her skirt was of the grass-green silk, her coat of velvet fine,
And tinkling in her horse’s mane were fifty bells and nine.
Thomas gazed upon her, and he fell down to his knee,
“Hail Mary, queen of heaven, your servant let me be.”
“Thomas, you’re mistaken, I am no heaven’s queen;
Fair Elfland is my kingdom, a land you’ve never seen.”
“Harp and sing,” she said, “come along with me,
Meet me at the Eildon tree.
Harp and sing,” she said, “come along with me,
Kiss me!”
Thomas went to meet her, and took her in his arms,
He kissed her rosy lips and fell victim to her charms.
Seven years of servitude for better or for worse,
Seven years in silence to lift the fairy’s curse.
She mounted on her milk-white steed, she’s taken him behind;
Away they flew on roads and paths no man could ever find.
Sun and moon were fading, no stars could there be seen,
Her kingdom lay in twilight, a land forever green.
The gates flew open when she led him straight in to her hall,
The roof was made of woven clouds, of flowered vines the wall.
“Hold your tongue now Thomas, answer only unto me,
If you speak to any other, your home you ne’er shall see.”
Seven years did pass, though he stayed but seven days,
Seven wondrous nights that he spent in a daze.
Then one morning he awoke, the trees were white with snow,
The fairy queen rose from the bed, saying, “Thomas you must go.
“You’ve been a faithful servant and you didn’t say a word,
Now I will make sure your voice it will be heard:
You shall have a token to remember me by,
I’ll bestow on you a tongue that cannot lie.”
Again he rode behind her, the mare so fast did flee,
She brought him back to Huntley bank, beneath the Eildon tree.
Her skirt was of the grass-green silk, her coat of velvet fine,
And tinkling in her horse’s mane were fifty bells and nine.