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  #1  
Unread 10-20-2024, 09:38 AM
Barbara Baig Barbara Baig is offline
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Default Tom Linne

Most of you probably know the original of this ballad, a 43 - stanza traditional ballad called "Tam Lin," one of the famous Child ballads from the Scottish borderlands, dated approximately mid-16th century. I’ve cut some of the material (43-stanzas? No way!) and updated the story (in accentual meter).

“shedding” is short for “woodshedding,” a musician’s term for isolating yourself to practice.

In English/Scottish folklore, pulling up roses has symbolic meaning, but I have not incorporated this in my version. You can find information here, if you’re interested: https://tam-lin.org/

Tom Linne

"Whatever happened to Tom Linne?
You remember him— good-looking as sin—
Plays a mean guitar in a local band.
Nobody knows where he’s been."

"Not even Janet?" "Nope, I asked."
"Maybe he’s shedding. Or some lucky chance
Sent the band out on a national tour
Or— he’s found a new romance…"
————-
When he lay in her arms, it all felt right,
But there was always a price to be paid:
She’d forbidden his music, silenced his voice;
For seven months he’d seethed—but he stayed.

Then one night he cracked, stole out of her house,
A mansion high on the east side of town,
In stockinged feet he slipped through the gate,
Caught a bus headed down, down,

Down to the club where his band was playing,
And Janet, in blue, standing next to the bar;
Eyes wide, she stared, and he saw her heart beating;
“I’m no ghost,” he said, and touched her arm

With fingers that made her heart turn over.
“I’ve given my promise: mum as a stone
I must be—but it’s nothing to do with you, Janet—
Let’s find a place to be alone.”

Under a willow tree, down by the river,
Janet and Tom as close as could be;
“My love,” he whispered, and held her tighter,
The enchantment failing, he was nearly free.

Janet went home to find her father;
“Father, it’s time I was married,” she said.
“And Tom Linne is my chosen man.”
Him! I’d rather see you dead!”

Janet’s gone down to the willow tree
And she’s pulled up roses, one by one,
“Stop!” cried Tom Linne, springing up from the ground,
Don’t kill our child! Here’s what’s to be done…”
———————-
Just before midnight— the witch’s house—
The barred gate opens—it’s Hallowe’en—

And out of the gate a dozen men walk,
Dazed by the moon. Then, a limousine

With the witch inside. Her black eyes proud:
Look at the men controlled by my spells!
Her shoulders bare, and half her breasts,
She fondles her necklace of precious gems.

Janet is waiting, holding her breath;
Tom walks first in that spellbound line.
She grabs him and pulls him out of his place;
Holding him tight, she says, “This man is mine!”

A scream from the car—then in her arms
Not Tom, but a giant poisonous snake—
Still she holds on tight—the snake is gone—
A huge bear appearing in its place—

But still she clings to the man in the beast,
Though now he’s changed to a lion, wild,
For Tom Linne is all the man she loves,
And he is the father of her child.

Once more he’s changed—to an iron bar,
Hotter than any fire can be—
And she’s thrown the bar into the river—
And now her true love, Tom, is free.

A curse upon you, screams the witch,
Who has stolen this man of all men from me!
Had I only foreseen, I’d have put out his eyes,
And replaced them with wood from a willow tree!

Last edited by Barbara Baig; 10-26-2024 at 02:07 PM. Reason: correct spelling
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  #2  
Unread 10-20-2024, 10:43 AM
Joe Crocker Joe Crocker is offline
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I first heard the story of Tam Lin at an impressionable age on Fairport Convention’s classic folk-rock album Liege and Lief. A heady mixture of traditional folk songs and thumping guitar riffs. It’s curious that your retelling of the tale seems to place Tam Lin in that very same folk-rock band as Richard Thompson, with Sandy Denny as Janet. I guess rockstar guitarist and knight in shining armour do overlap.
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  #3  
Unread 10-20-2024, 10:49 AM
Jim Moonan Jim Moonan is offline
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.
(I think I hear the moderator's footsteps coming )
.
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  #4  
Unread 10-20-2024, 11:28 AM
Barbara Baig Barbara Baig is offline
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Thanks, Joe.
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  #5  
Unread 10-20-2024, 11:29 AM
Barbara Baig Barbara Baig is offline
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Default Tom Linne

Please explain, Jim.
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  #6  
Unread 10-20-2024, 02:49 PM
Jim Moonan Jim Moonan is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Barbara Baig View Post
Please explain, Jim.
Just wanted to give you a heads up. Far be it from me to play "police", but I would expect the board moderator to step in to let you know the following:

"You should post no more than one new thread per week in the Metrical, Deep End, and Non-Metrical Forums combined."



And welcome! Things are pretty laid back here in terms of letting the members police themselves but the limit on frequency of posting is one that is studiously kept in my experience.

But so far the moderator seems to be busy doing other things so you're good until...

Best,
Jim

.
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  #7  
Unread 10-20-2024, 03:29 PM
Barbara Baig Barbara Baig is offline
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Got it; thanks. I must have misread the date on which I posted the previous poem.
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  #8  
Unread 10-20-2024, 04:47 PM
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Jayne Osborn Jayne Osborn is offline
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Hi Barbara,
Jim's right, sorry. I love your poem, but it'll have to be put on hold for a few days...

I'll reopen the thread during the week, as soon as it becomes elligible.

Jayne
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  #9  
Unread 10-24-2024, 07:05 PM
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Jayne Osborn Jayne Osborn is offline
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Hi Barbara,
Your thread's open again.

Jayne
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  #10  
Unread 10-25-2024, 02:17 PM
Barbara Baig Barbara Baig is offline
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Thanks, Jayne. Comments, anyone?
Barbara
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