They began playing together in 1999 and their first album as a duo was Through and Through (2001).
In 2002 they were both session musicians on Eliza Carthy's album Anglicana, and toured with her as part of her band The Ratcatchers.
However it was their second album, Bellow, in 2003 that drew attention. The tunes and songs were mostly traditional, grounded in the Morris tradition.
In the same year they won the "Horizon Award" in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards [1], followed by the "Best Duo" [2] category in 2004. A new album called simply Tunes came out in summer 2005 and another, and Songs followed in October of the same year.
Spiers and Boden were founding members of the folk band Bellowhead, which is a project that aims to combine traditional English folk music with a brass band sound.
Their new album, Vagabond, was released on Navigator Records on 26th May 2008.
Cruel Knife
Spiers & Boden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There lies sweet lovely Nancy so silent in her tomb.
She died not broken-hearted nor sickness ere befell,
But in one moment was parted from the life she loved so well.
One night the moon shone brightly, and the gentle zephyrs blew,
When to her bedroom window, her lover then he drew.
He said "Come let us wander in those dark woods we'll stray,
"These woods are dark and dreadful, I am afraid to stay,
Of wandering I am weary, so I'll retrace my way."
"These woods, these gentle zephyrs your feet no more will roam,
So bid farewell forever to all the things that you have known."
Down on her knees before him then she pleaded for her life,
When deep into her bosom he plunged the cruel knife.
"Oh, William, cruel William," it was her dying breath.
Her heart's blood stained the leaves below, and her eyes were closed in death.
Down by a weeping willow where the wild violets bloom,
There lies sweet lovely Nancy so silent in her tomb.
The song Cruel Knife by Spiers & Boden tells a tragic love story of a young woman named Nancy who was killed by her lover William. Nancy is buried under a weeping willow tree where wild violets bloom. The first verse of the song sets the tone of sadness and grief that follows throughout. It is mentioned that Nancy did not die of a broken heart or sickness, but was taken away from her life in a single moment. She loved her life dearly, and her death was devastating.
The second verse sets the scene of the night Nancy was murdered. It was a bright moonlit night, and the gentle breeze blew. William sneaked into Nancy's bedroom and took her away to a dark wood where they spoke about their wedding day. However, when she grew tired, Nancy begged to go back home, but William insisted on murdering her instead. Despite her pleading for her life, William plunged a knife deep into her heart, and her dying words were "Oh William, cruel William." The song ends with Nancy being buried under the same weeping willow tree where she was taken by her lover for the last time.
Overall, the song Cruel Knife is a tale of love, betrayal, and murder. It portrays the intense emotions felt by a young woman who was taken away from her loved ones and her dreams. The song symbolizes the tragedy of how love can turn into cruelty, leading to an untimely death.
Line by Line Meaning
Down by a weeping willow, where the wild violets bloom,
At a place where the wildflowers bloom near a willow tree, there is Nancy's grave.
There lies sweet lovely Nancy so silent in her tomb.
Nancy's body rests in quietness inside her grave.
She died not broken-hearted nor sickness ere befell,
Nancy's death occurred suddenly and not due to any illness or heartbreak.
But in one moment was parted from the life she loved so well.
She was separated from the life that she cherished deeply in one instant.
One night the moon shone brightly, and the gentle zephyrs blew,
On a starry night with a refreshing breeze, Nancy's lover came to her window.
When to her bedroom window, her lover then he drew.
Her lover came to her room and drew her attention to him.
He said "Come let us wander in those dark woods we'll stray,
He asked her to come with him to wander in the dark woods.
And there we'll sit and ponder upon our wedding day."
He proposed to spend time with her and think about their wedding day in the woods.
"These woods are dark and dreadful, I am afraid to stay,
She expressed her fear and reluctance to stay in the dark and scary woods.
Of wandering I am weary, so I'll retrace my way."
She declared that she was tired of wandering and decided to go back home.
"These woods, these gentle zephyrs your feet no more will roam,
Her lover informed her that she won't be able to wander in these woods or feel the breeze anymore.
So bid farewell forever to all the things that you have known."
He told her to say goodbye indefinitely to all the things she knew.
Down on her knees before him then she pleaded for her life,
Nancy begged for her life while kneeling in front of her lover.
When deep into her bosom he plunged the cruel knife.
Her lover stabbed Nancy with a vicious knife in her chest.
"Oh, William, cruel William," it was her dying breath.
She took her last breath, uttering the words, "Oh William, you cruel person."
Her heart's blood stained the leaves below, and her eyes were closed in death.
Her blood covered the leaves, and her eyes were shut in death.
Contributed by Adrian K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.