Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 21 hours ago
Thomas the Rhymer / True Thomas / Thomas Rymer (Child No. 37) - Sung by Duncan Williamson, a Traveller of Furnace, Argyllshire, Scotland, later settled in Fife. Recorded by David Engle on January 18, 1987.
The original recording can be listened to here:
tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/91094?l=en
A biography of Duncan Williamson along with many further sound recordings can be found here:
tobarandualchais.co.uk/person/4292?l=en
Linda Williamson's thesis on Scottish Traveller singing can be read here, it is well worth your time if you are interested in Duncan Williamson's song repertoire: era.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/8223
Note by Kevin W.:
Duncan learned Thomas the Rhymer from "Uncle" Sandy Townsley, his mother's cousin, who travelled much of the time in Aberdeenshire. The song was known amongst Scottish Travellers, but Duncan's version is the only one to be recorded as far as I know. Another Traveller, Betsy Whyte of Montrose, Angus remarked that her mother used to know it when she listened to Duncan singing the ballad. Betsy said Traveller women used to sing it when they were drunk, to the same tune as Duncan, but "mare drunken and rollin".
A fragment of Betsy Whyte's family tune for Thomas the Rhymer can be heard here:
youtube.com/watch?v=gX-Jijwp9_U
Song transcription:
True Thomas he lay on a Huntly bank
Beneath an Eilton tree
O when he saw a lady fair
Comin ridin oer the lea
Her mantle it was of the forest green
And her tresses O sae fair
And from every tass of her horse's mane
Hung twenty siller bells and mair
O Thomas he doffed off his hat
He got down upon his knee
He said - Lady you're the greatest queen
That ever I did see
O no O no O Thomas - she said
That name does not belong to me
For I have come from Elfinland
I have come to visit thee
And you maun come O Thomas - she said
You maun come along wi me
For I am bound for Elfinland
It is very far away
So they rode and they rode and they merrily merrily rode
And merrily they rode away
Until they came to a crystal river
That lay across their way
What river is this? O Thomas he said
O please to me do say
This is a river of tears - she said
That is spilled on this earth in one day
So they rode and they rode and they merrily merrily rode
And merrily they rode away
Until they came to a red river
That lay across their way
What river is this? O Thomas he said
O please to me do say
This is a river of blood - she said
That is spilled on this earth in one day
So they rode and they rode and they merrily merrily rode
And merrily they rode away
Until they came to a thorny road
That lay across their way
What road is this? O Thomas he said
O please to me do tell
That is a road you must never lead
For that road it leads to Hell
So they rode and they rode and they merrily merrily rode
And merrily they rode away
Until they came to a great orchard
That lay across their way
Light down, light down O Thomas - he said
O it's hungry that I maun be
Light down, light down O Thomas he said
Some fine apples I do see
O touch them not - the Elfin queen said
Please touch them not I say
For they are made from the curses
That fall on this earth in one day
So reachin up into a tree
Into a tree so high
She plucked an apple from a tree
As they went riding by
O eat you this O Thomas - she said
As we go riding by
And it will give to you a tongue
That will never tell a lie
So they rode and they rode and they merrily merrily rode
And they rode for a night and a day
Until they came to a great valley
That lay across their way
What place is this? O Thomas he said
O please to me do say
This is Elfinland - she said
And it's here that you maun stay
So Thomas got a coat of lovely brown
And some shoes of elfin green
And for seven long years and a day
On earth he was never seen
Thomas the Rhymer / True Thomas / Thomas Rymer (Child No. 37) - Sung by Duncan Williamson, a Traveller of Furnace, Argyllshire, Scotland, later settled in Fife. Recorded by David Engle on January 18, 1987.
The original recording can be listened to here:
tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/91094?l=en
A biography of Duncan Williamson along with many further sound recordings can be found here:
tobarandualchais.co.uk/person/4292?l=en
Linda Williamson's thesis on Scottish Traveller singing can be read here, it is well worth your time if you are interested in Duncan Williamson's song repertoire: era.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/8223
Note by Kevin W.:
Duncan learned Thomas the Rhymer from "Uncle" Sandy Townsley, his mother's cousin, who travelled much of the time in Aberdeenshire. The song was known amongst Scottish Travellers, but Duncan's version is the only one to be recorded as far as I know. Another Traveller, Betsy Whyte of Montrose, Angus remarked that her mother used to know it when she listened to Duncan singing the ballad. Betsy said Traveller women used to sing it when they were drunk, to the same tune as Duncan, but "mare drunken and rollin".
A fragment of Betsy Whyte's family tune for Thomas the Rhymer can be heard here:
youtube.com/watch?v=gX-Jijwp9_U
Song transcription:
True Thomas he lay on a Huntly bank
Beneath an Eilton tree
O when he saw a lady fair
Comin ridin oer the lea
Her mantle it was of the forest green
And her tresses O sae fair
And from every tass of her horse's mane
Hung twenty siller bells and mair
O Thomas he doffed off his hat
He got down upon his knee
He said - Lady you're the greatest queen
That ever I did see
O no O no O Thomas - she said
That name does not belong to me
For I have come from Elfinland
I have come to visit thee
And you maun come O Thomas - she said
You maun come along wi me
For I am bound for Elfinland
It is very far away
So they rode and they rode and they merrily merrily rode
And merrily they rode away
Until they came to a crystal river
That lay across their way
What river is this? O Thomas he said
O please to me do say
This is a river of tears - she said
That is spilled on this earth in one day
So they rode and they rode and they merrily merrily rode
And merrily they rode away
Until they came to a red river
That lay across their way
What river is this? O Thomas he said
O please to me do say
This is a river of blood - she said
That is spilled on this earth in one day
So they rode and they rode and they merrily merrily rode
And merrily they rode away
Until they came to a thorny road
That lay across their way
What road is this? O Thomas he said
O please to me do tell
That is a road you must never lead
For that road it leads to Hell
So they rode and they rode and they merrily merrily rode
And merrily they rode away
Until they came to a great orchard
That lay across their way
Light down, light down O Thomas - he said
O it's hungry that I maun be
Light down, light down O Thomas he said
Some fine apples I do see
O touch them not - the Elfin queen said
Please touch them not I say
For they are made from the curses
That fall on this earth in one day
So reachin up into a tree
Into a tree so high
She plucked an apple from a tree
As they went riding by
O eat you this O Thomas - she said
As we go riding by
And it will give to you a tongue
That will never tell a lie
So they rode and they rode and they merrily merrily rode
And they rode for a night and a day
Until they came to a great valley
That lay across their way
What place is this? O Thomas he said
O please to me do say
This is Elfinland - she said
And it's here that you maun stay
So Thomas got a coat of lovely brown
And some shoes of elfin green
And for seven long years and a day
On earth he was never seen
