The first time I heard Tam Lin it was being sung by Mike Waterson at the Folk Union One in Hull.

I heard it through the peephole in the door being lucky enough to be at the head of the silent queue waiting to re-enter the room. There was no slipping in in those days!

I found it rivetting then and I still do.

I have also heard many excellent renditions by other singers and try as I might cannot recall any duff ones. Maybe I have just been lucky (it's the company I keep) or the song uses its magical qualities to ward off the less able (nearly said crap) singer.