☝️ Key Points
- The song is a combination of the traditional English ballad 'Scarborough Fair' and anti-war poetry called 'Canticle'.
- The 'Scarborough Fair' part is about a past love relationship, symbolized by near-impossible tasks and the repeated mention of herbs as symbols of love and death.
- 'Canticle', written by Paul Simon, showcases the devastating effects and senseless destruction of war.
- The song presents a strong contrast between an seemingly peaceful love story and the brutal reality of war.
- The combination of traditional and modern texts conveys a powerful message about lost love and the tragedy of war.
Interpretation
"Scarborough Fair / Canticle" by
Simon and Garfunkel is a song that draws on two different narratives. The song is a reworking of a traditional English ballad called "Scarborough Fair", coupled with anti-war lyrics known as "Canticle".
The "Scarborough Fair" part has its roots in a medieval love story. The protagonist of the song asks someone who is going to Scarborough Fair to give his former lover a series of near-impossible tasks, such as making a seamless shirt or finding a field between the saltwater and the seashore. The repetition of the herbs - parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme - are traditional symbols of love and death in English folklore. These impossible tasks suggest that the love between them is over and can only be renewed through their completion.
The "Canticle" part of the song, written by Paul Simon, is an anti-war poem that depicts the senseless destruction and death of war. Words like "war cries idle in scarlet battalions, generals order their soldiers to kill" show the senseless violence and destruction of war. This contrast between the peaceful, idyllic love story and the brutal realities of war creates a strong tension in the song.
Overall, "Scarborough Fair / Canticle" is a song about lost love and the tragedy of war, conveying a powerful message by blending traditional and modern texts.