The band consisted of two of the superstars of British folk guitar, Bert Jansch (3rd November 1943 - 5th October 2011) and John Renbourn (both of whom also sang,) singer Jacqui McShee, bassist Danny Thompson and drummer Terry Cox. The original line-up lasted until the early 70s, when a series of ins and outs resulted in erratic output, which continued through the 80s and 90s.
The core of the band's identity was the eclectic virtuosity of Jansch and Renbourn, who added elements of Middle Eastern music, blues, jazz and Classical to their style. At various times, they also experimented with electric guitar and sitar.
In the UK, probably best known for providing 'Light Flight' as the theme to the BBC drama series 'Take Three Girls'.
Sovay
Pentangle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She dressed herself in man's array
With a brace of pistols all by her side
To meet her true love, to meet her true love, she ride
As she was riding over the plain
She met her true love and bid him on his hand
she said stop
"And If an you do not, and if an you do not, I'll shoot you dead''
He delivered up his golden store
And still she craved for one thing more
"That diamond ring, that diamond ring that I see you wear
Oh hand it over, oh hand it over, and your life I'll spare''
"That diamond ring I wouldn't part
For it's a token from me sweetheart
You shoot and be damned you rogue" said he
"And you'll be hanged and you'll be hanged for murdering me''
Next morning in the garden green
Young Sophie and her love were seen
He spied his watch hanging by her clothes
Which made him blush lads, which made him blush lads like any rose
"Why do you blush you silly thing
I thought to have that diamond ring
Twas I who robbed you all on the plain
So here's your gold, so here's your gold and your watch again''
"I only did it for to know
If you were be a man or no
If you had given me that ring she said
I'd have pulled the trigger I'd pulled the trigger and shot you dead''
The song Sovay by Pentangle tells the tale of a young woman named Sovay who disguises herself as a man to meet her true love. She rides to meet him with pistols by her side, but as they cross paths, she pulls a highwayman act and demands he hand over his goods. He gives her everything but his diamond ring, which she demands for her own. When he refuses, she threatens to shoot him dead, but he takes a stand and calls her bluff.
The next day, they meet again and he sees his watch hanging by Sovay's clothes. After admitting to being the highwayman who had robbed him the previous day, he hands over the stolen goods and asks why she had gone to such lengths. Sovay admits that she had only done it to test if he was a real man or not. If he had given her the ring, she would have shot him dead. The song ends with the two lovers reunited, but with a lingering sense of mistrust between them.
The lyrics of the song take the listener on a journey of passion, deceit, and confusion; ultimately leaving us pondering the idea of trust and what it truly means. It is a traditional folk ballad that has been recorded by many artists, but Pentangle's version is considered to be one of the best.
Line by Line Meaning
Sovay Sovay all on a day
The singer, Sovay, sets out on a day to meet her true love
She dressed herself in man's array
Sovay disguised herself as a man
With a brace of pistols all by her side
She carried two pistols as weapons
To meet her true love, to meet her true love, she ride
Sovay rode her horse to meet her love
As she was riding over the plain
Sovay was traveling over a flat area of land
She met her true love and bid him on his hand
Sovay met her love and asked him to stop
she said stop
Sovay told her love to halt
"Stand and deliver, come sir,'' she said
She demanded that he give up his possessions
"And If an you do not, and if an you do not, I'll shoot you dead''
She threatened to shoot him if he does not comply
He delivered up his golden store
Her love gave up his possessions
And still she craved for one thing more
Sovay still wanted one more thing
"That diamond ring, that diamond ring that I see you wear
Sovay demanded her love's diamond ring
Oh hand it over, oh hand it over, and your life I'll spare''
She offered to spare his life in exchange for the ring
"That diamond ring I wouldn't part
Her love refused to give up the ring
For it's a token from me sweetheart
He explained that the ring was a gift from his lover
You shoot and be damned you rogue" said he
Her love insulted her and dared her to shoot him
"And you'll be hanged and you'll be hanged for murdering me''
He warned that she would be punished for murdering him
Next morning in the garden green
The next morning, the pair met in a garden
Young Sophie and her love were seen
The name of Sovay's true love is revealed to be Sophie
He spied his watch hanging by her clothes
Sophie noticed his watch hanging on Sovay's clothes
Which made him blush lads, which made him blush lads like any rose
Sophie blushed when she noticed his watch on Sovay
"Why do you blush you silly thing
Sophie asked why her love was blushing
I thought to have that diamond ring
Sophie revealed that she had taken the diamond ring
Twas I who robbed you all on the plain
Sophie admitted to robbing Sovay on the plain
So here's your gold, so here's your gold and your watch again''
She returned his possessions
"I only did it for to know
Sophie revealed that she did it to test Sovay
If you were be a man or no
She wanted to know if Sovay was a real man
If you had given me that ring she said
She would have shot Sovay if he had given up the ring
I'd have pulled the trigger I'd pulled the trigger and shot you dead''
Sophie threatened to kill him if he had handed over the diamond ring
Lyrics © THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: DAVE SWARBRICK, MARTIN CARTHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Blendeture
I discovered Pentangle in April 2021 after the YouTube algorithm suggested Rain and Snow from Set of Six. What a great live performance that whole show is. I hope very much we will get to see every song from this 1982 appearance!
@funnyguise
late 2020 for me and it was Willy O Winsbury
@sbbinahee
.
@kingrobert1st
I was a big fan of Bert and John even before Pentangle was formed!
@kentholmberg1818
The Set Of Six is a fantastic show. Material from Salomon's Seal and overall better performed live on television than in the studio. Jacqui' s vocals on Willy is outstanding and I love Rain and Snow and The Lady of Carlisle without Bert' s harmonica. The best track on the show is without doubt People on the Highway. Greetings from a Swedish Pentangle - freak who tries to write in English! ❤
@LaughingStock_
I thought Jacqui had hit her peak in the 70s. WRONG! This is stunning! WHAT A BAND!
@mattychapati
Top flight musicians all of them. Jaqui's voice is exquisite. I love her harmonies with Bert on the last verse reprise Where's Terry? I know he didn't play on this track, maybe glockenspiel? But I don't see a drum kit set up. I met Danny Thompson in a shopping centre way back in 1994. I stopped and had a chat with him. Lovely humble guy. I was holding a door open and there he was behind me with his wife.
@MrJameswingham
Terry had broken his leg I think. John left the reunion fairly soon after this. Pity...
@mattychapati
@James Walton Ingham Thanks for the information James. Terry was a fantastic drummer. What a band! Love The Pentangle as much as l loved, I and still love The Incredible String Band. Polar opposites of the folk scene but both amazing in their own right.
@avishy938
Terry did not play that August with them on the Cambridge folk festival as well, he was injured from a car accident, this video is great! Can you post the other songs please?