TAM LYNN, a Child ballad for sure, is crammed full of masterful magic, transmutations, morphing and witchery of all kinds. That is the Queen of the fairies in that grand song, but a witch by any other name would smell as sweet. Did Cecil Sharp find it in the U.S. southern mountains from anyone that hadn't learned it from a book, broadside or whatever?? I rather doubt that he did.

To update: The new found voices and vociferousness of the religious right came down pretty hard on occasion upon Tolkien, Harry Potter, Manly Wade Wellman's tales of John with his silver-strung guitar protecting him from all klinds of supernatural doings there.

They are still striving to get these images and tales "gone from American life."

Art