Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Vin21]

Simon & Garfunkel's song "Scarborough Fair",I like it very much.
But there's a line of the lyrics that makes me confuse,that is,
"Without no seams nor needlework "
"without seams nor needlework" means no seams and no needlework,right?
Why"without no"? what's the actual meaning?
Thanks!

[bud]

Vin, you've probably learned that a double negative is logically the same as a postive. That's true. But almost always when you see/hear a double negative, it is meant as a negative. Most likely it is slang, a kind of "street-talk" or vernacular, a mistake, etc. It means, "without seams nor needlework."

[Vin21]

Thanks for your help,bud.
But base on what that you know a double negative is meant as a negative or it is really meant as a positive?

[bud]

You're welcome!.. It is usually meant as a negative. It's possible to use (legitimately) a double negative to mean a positive, but it is unusual.