Tam Lin tells the story of Tam Lin, a young man from the village of Carterhough in the Scottish highlands. He is the most handsome young man in the village and we first meet him as he approaches his wedding to his childhood sweetheart Janet. But Tam Lin has a wanderlust in him. Is a lifetime in a small village in the highlands all that life can offer? There must be more.

The Elfin Queen hears his inner desires and answers his call offering a life of beauty, leisure and love. Tam Lin considers her offer, but even with the guilt of leaving his wife and young children he is seduced by the Elfin Queen’s promises. As he leaves for Elfland, the Queen warns him that he must serve for 7 years else his soul will be dammed.

We find Tam Lin four years into his service to the Queen enjoying a life of beauty and love. Janet, back in Carterhaugh is told by all her friends to forget Tam Lin and find a new husband, but Janet cannot, for she still loves Tam Lin with all her heart and believes he will come back to her one day.

In Elfland, after four years, Tam Lin is becoming home sick and misses Janet, his children and his home. He asks the Elfin Queen if he can leave and she warns him again that he must compete his seven years service. But Tam Lin cannot wait and yearns to return to Janet.

Back in Carterhow, we find Janet now old and near death. In all the years she has never given up on Tam Lin, and never remarried. As she approaches death she calls out to Tam Lin one last time. He hears her and returns to Carterhough only to find her on her deathbed, finally understanding the price he has paid – for every year that has passed in Elfland, seven years have passed in Carterhough. Janet is near death, his children have grown and left.

In one final song they both redeclare their love for each other finally reuniting in their true love before Janet passes. Tam Lin sings alone in despair and loss questioning the decisions he has made through his life that led him to this sad ending.