Scarborough Fair is a traditional English folk song in the form of a ballad. Like many English folk tunes, there are many variations of this song. Although made popular by Simon and Garfunkel, I will be discussing the Celtic Woman version because of its instrumental ties to more traditional versions. Scarborough Fair is originally from Medieval England. Since it was orally passed down, its original author is unknown. It was played by bards town to town and resulted in many variations, although the melody is the same. The lyrics changed, with the line "parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme" being added and becoming a popular line nowadays. Scarborough Fair was a huge 45 day trade fair at the seaside resort town of Scarborough. The song tells of a man who asks his lover to perform a series of impossible tasks such as making a shirt "without no seam nor fine needlework" after she suddenly leaves him and then she will be his true love (Jong). The Celtic Woman variation of the lyrics simplifies the verses but still retains the a couple impossible tasks and alludes to the lover's departure.
Arirang is a traditional Korean folk song considered to be Korea's unofficial national anthem. No one really knows of its original composer but it has been around for centuries. Due to the different regional dialects of Korean, there are many different versions that exist. The version I will focus on is performed by the Korean National Classical Orchestra, which features the Bonjo Arirang lyrics, which is the most popular. Arirang has no direct translation but it can mean "Beautiful Dear" and portrays the sadness of a woman whose lover leaves her, similar to the aforementioned Scarborough Fair. She wishes that before he even leaves for 3 miles, "lame [he'll] have grown" so that he will come back to her. Many Koreans identify with the sorrow expressed in the song after their turbulent history with the Japanese occupation and splitting of their country (From Lyrical Folk Song to Cheering Song: Variations of 'Arirang' in Korean History). This song also brings great national pride and is commonplace throughout the country, performed often.