LA Phil Bassist - Scarborough Fair

[Peter Rofé]

Scarborough Fair is an English folk song that dates back to the middle ages (obviously not written by Paul Simon). A woman leaves her lover for the delights of the fair. The heartbroken man sips on a witch's brew - parsley to be rid of bitterness, sage to gain strength, rosemary to be rid of love, thyme to gain courage. He approaches strangers asking to deliver a message: Tell her if she does a series of impossible to complete tasks he will take her back (subtext - I never want to see you again).