Scarborough Fair Site
The core narrative of the song is a classic "riddle song" involving two former lovers engaging in a battle of wits.
The lyrics can be traced back to a traditional Scottish ballad titled "The Elfin Knight" (collected as Child Ballad #2), which dates as far back as 1670. Scarborough Fair
Over the centuries, the song was passed down orally by traveling bards. Dozens of variations existed by the 18th century, with some substituting other locations like "Whittingham Fair". 📜 The Lyrical Riddle The core narrative of the song is a