Scarborough Fair/Canticle
Song DNA
A hauntingly beautiful rendition of a traditional ballad.
Cultural Context
Combines traditional and contemporary folk styles.
Listening Prompt
Enjoy the interplay of melody and harmony.
What to Expect
Delicate and flowing, with a dreamlike quality.
Hear it the way it was made
The right gear changes everything.
Moods: intimate, spacious
How this song sits on each sensory axis
A dynamic range of 6/10 means this song moves. Expect a real volume climb between quiet sections and the loudest part of the arrangement — enough that you may want to set the initial volume below where you'd normally land.
Sudden changes: none. Transitions are musically signaled — nothing will surprise you if you're only half-listening.
Texture: complex.
Predictability is medium — conventional structure overall, with one or two moments that deviate from what you'd expect.
Vocal style: soft vocals.
Where this sits in Simon & Garfunkel's catalog
We have 14 songs from Simon & Garfunkel in the library. Of those, 6 are rated Safe, 8 Moderate, and 0 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 6/10 sits above the artist average of 5.9, making it the #6 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.
Other tracks from Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
We have 2 songs from this album. Overall, the album leans safe in sensory profile.
- Homeward Bound — safe DR 5
1966 context
Released in 1966. We have 166 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.4/10. This track is about average than the year average. Explore more from the 1960s.
Explore by mood and tradition
Why this rating
We rate this song Safe because its dynamic range stays within our low-variance band, there are no unsignaled changes, and the texture and vocal style are both in the low-fatigue range. Our methodology uses an AND rule for Safe — a song has to clear every dimension to earn the rating.
Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-05. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.
Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.
Frequently asked about "Scarborough Fair/Canticle"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the sensory intensity of "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" by Simon & Garfunkel?
"Scarborough Fair/Canticle" by Simon & Garfunkel rates as Low-Intensity. Dynamic range 6/10, no sudden changes, complex texture. Our Low-Intensity rating means no single dimension triggers the higher-intensity thresholds.
How loud is "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" — what is its dynamic range?
"Scarborough Fair/Canticle" has a dynamic range of 6/10. Noticeable climb from quiet sections to loudest point. Set opening volume slightly lower than your preferred peak.
Does "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" have sudden or surprising changes?
No. "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" has no sudden unsignaled changes. Every transition is musically telegraphed.
What is "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" best for?
In our library "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" is recommended for: focus, meditation. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.
When was "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" released?
"Scarborough Fair/Canticle" is from 1966, on the album "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme". It appears in our 1960s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "Scarborough Fair/Canticle"?
We tag "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" as intimate, spacious. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.
What is the vocal style of "Scarborough Fair/Canticle"?
The vocal style is soft vocals.
Should I listen to "Scarborough Fair/Canticle"?
If you want gentle, low-arousal music, "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" is a solid pick — Low-Intensity across every sensory dimension.
Songs with the same DNA
complex texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.
What this song means to people
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