Frank - just to nitpick slightly here:

"Scarborough Fair" is not a pop song which has become traditional - it's an old traditional song which has become popular. Paul Simon's version is essentially that of a version sung by Martin Carthy and then copyrighted by Simon.

As far as the song itself goes, I much prefer the alternative tune and words by the Dransfield Brothers, which they recorded on their "Rout Of The Blues" album in 1971. The tune (IMO) is more rugged, and the words dispense with the obligatory herbs - their version being far more down to earth than the pretty-pretty decoration of Simon's.