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.
Derry Gaol
Spiers & Boden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And after evening another day.
And after old love there comes the new love,
It is hard to keep those that will not stay.
My love he is the finest young man,
That ever nature framed or sun shone on.
Oh, but how to save him, I do not know it,
As he marched out through the streets of Derry,
I'm sure he marched up right manfully.
Being much more like some commanding officer,
Than one to hang upon the gallows tree.
But the very first step he put on the gallows,
His blooming colour began to fade.
And with bitter sighing and tender crying,
"Is there no releasement from Derry gaol?
"Where is my love, she is so long a-coming,
And what detains her so long from me?
Or does she think it some shame or scandal
For to see me hang upon the gallows tree?"
Well he looked around and he saw her coming!
As she rode faster than the wind,
"Stand back, stand back you false prosecutors
For I bear releasement all from the King.
"For I made them see they may not hang you,
And I'll crown my love all with a gown of green."
The song "Derry Gaol" by Spiers & Boden tells a story of a woman whose love has been sentenced to death and is about to be hanged. The lyrics express the inevitability of time passing and the transience of love. The woman laments that even though her love is the finest young man ever to exist, his fate is sealed, and she is powerless to change it. The opening lines suggest that life goes on, and with every ending comes a new beginning. The woman's love is sentenced to be hung, and as he marches out through the streets of Derry, he puts on a brave front, appearing more like a commanding officer than someone about to be executed. However, as he takes the first step onto the gallows, his courage begins to wane, and he starts to question if there is any escape from Derry gaol.
The woman's love appears to be resigned to his fate, but he cannot help wondering why his love is taking so long to come and bid him farewell. When she finally arrives, he exclaims with joy, "Where is my love, she is so long a-coming, And what detains her so long from me?" He asks whether she thinks it is shameful for her to come and see him hang upon the gallows tree. However, his joy quickly turns to despair when he sees her wearing a green gown, signifying that she had to bribe their way out of his execution. The song ends with her telling the false prosecutors that she has "releasement all from the king" and that her love will be crowned with a gown of green.
Overall, the song "Derry Gaol" by Spiers & Boden is a poignant tale of love and sacrifice. The lyrics capture the inevitability of life's twists and turns, and the transient nature of love. The woman's love is sentenced to death, but she finds a way to save him, even if it comes at a great cost to her.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, after morning there comes the evening!
Time continues to pass, and each day has its own end.
And after evening another day.
Each day is followed by another, with its own set of joys and sorrows.
And after old love there comes the new love,
Love may be lost, but it can also be found again in unexpected places.
It is hard to keep those that will not stay.
No matter how much we try, we cannot hold onto someone who doesn't want to stay.
My love he is the finest young man,
The artist deeply loves and admires their partner.
That ever nature framed or sun shone on.
They believe their partner to be the best person in the world.
Oh, but how to save him, I do not know it,
The singer is at a loss as to how to help their partner in a difficult situation.
For he is sentenced all to be hung.
Their partner has been convicted and sentenced to death by hanging.
As he marched out through the streets of Derry,
The artist remembers their partner being taken to the gallows through the streets of Derry.
I'm sure he marched up right manfully.
Their partner walked with pride and dignity, despite his dire circumstances.
Being much more like some commanding officer,
He appeared to be more like a military leader than a criminal.
Than one to hang upon the gallows tree.
He didn't seem like someone who deserved to be executed in this way.
But the very first step he put on the gallows,
Just as he began to climb the steps to the noose,
His blooming colour began to fade.
His complexion and vitality started to diminish as he faced his death.
And with bitter sighing and tender crying,
He let out a mournful sigh and shed some tears.
"Is there no releasement from Derry gaol?
He wondered if there was any way he could be freed from his imprisonment and impending death.
"Where is my love, she is so long a-coming,
He asked where the artist was, as they had not yet arrived.
And what detains her so long from me?
He wondered why the singer was taking so long, causing him undue stress.
Or does she think it some shame or scandal
He wondered if the singer was ashamed to see him in his current situation, or if others were judging her for being associated with him.
For to see me hang upon the gallows tree?"
He feared being seen by others as he was executed.
Well he looked around and he saw her coming!
Suddenly, he spotted the artist approaching.
As she rode faster than the wind,
The artist approached with great speed, demonstrating their urgency.
"Stand back, stand back you false prosecutors
The singer called out to those who had wrongfully prosecuted and sentenced the singer's partner.
For I bear releasement all from the King.
She announced that she had obtained a pardon from the king, which would set him free.
"For I made them see they may not hang you,
The singer explained that she had convinced the authorities that her partner didn't deserve to be hanged.
And I'll crown my love all with a gown of green."
She promised to reward her partner's freedom with a beautiful garment, symbolizing the start of a new chapter in their lives together.
Contributed by Stella I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.