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.
Doleful Dance Of Death
Spiers & Boden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The dance that everyone must do?
Hear the drummer strike a noble beat,
The harp ring sweet and true.
Gather rosebuds while you may,
For when you hear the piper play,
You may to heaven dance away,
You may to heaven dance away.
You may fill your pockets up with gold,
And dress all in rich array.
Wise or foolish, meek or bold,
There's only a penny left to pay.
The poorest man is crowned complete,
The day he finds his winding sheet,
For death is the man that all must meet,
Yes, death is the man that all must meet.
You may build your mansions high,
With roaring fires to keep you warm.
Shut the shutters, bolt the gates,
Draw curtains tightly against the storm.
The strongest tower its hearth betrays,
When my tune the minstrel plays,
A doleful dance to end your days,
A doleful dance to end your days.
The song "Doleful Dance Of Death" by Spiers & Boden speaks about the inevitability of death and how it is an event that everyone must eventually face. The lyrics describe death as the ultimate equalizer, where all people, regardless of their wealth or status, will end up paying the same price when they die. The song highlights the importance of living life to the fullest and enjoying every moment as if it were the last, for when death comes it will be final.
The first verse of the song refers to a dance that everyone must do. This dance is a metaphor for life and how we must all live it to the best of our abilities. The sounds of the drums and harp ringing sweet and true suggest that life is full of joyful and beautiful moments, but we mustn't forget that it will one day come to an end. The second verse speaks about how we may try to accumulate riches and fame, but ultimately, we all end up with only a penny left to pay. Death is the only certainty in life, and it's the one final thing that all people must meet.
The last verse describes how we may try to build our mansions high and surround ourselves with luxury and comfort, but death will come knocking at our door when the minstrel plays his doleful tune. The song's message is clear - we should live life to its fullest and not take anything for granted, for in the end, death will always be waiting.
Line by Line Meaning
Can you dance the shaking of the sheets,
Can you dance the final dance of death, when your sheets tremble as it draws near?
The dance that everyone must do?
The unavoidable dance that everyone must perform.
Hear the drummer strike a noble beat,
Hear the steady beat that signifies the end of life.
The harp ring sweet and true.
The calming melody that accompanies you as you leave this world.
Gather rosebuds while you may,
Enjoy life's pleasures while you still can.
For when you hear the piper play,
For when it's time to dance towards the Piper and leave the world behind.
You may to heaven dance away,
You may leave this world and move on to the afterlife.
You may fill your pockets up with gold,
You can accumulate wealth and material possessions.
And dress all in rich array.
And adorn yourself with luxurious clothing.
Wise or foolish, meek or bold,
Regardless of your personality or actions in life.
There's only a penny left to pay.
In the end, death is the only fee you have to pay.
The poorest man is crowned complete,
Even the poorest man can end his journey in the same way as the richest.
The day he finds his winding sheet,
The day he's laid to rest in his final wrap (shroud).
For death is the man that all must meet,
Death is the inevitable part of life that everyone will face.
Yes, death is the man that all must meet.
Indeed, death is the man that everyone must meet.
You may build your mansions high,
You can build grandiose homes and accumulate luxurious possessions.
With roaring fires to keep you warm.
With heating and comfort to make life easier.
Shut the shutters, bolt the gates,
Protect yourself from the dangers outside.
Draw curtains tightly against the storm.
Protect yourself from the turmoil of life.
The strongest tower its hearth betrays,
Even the strongest and most fortified homes cannot withstand death's arrival.
When my tune the minstrel plays,
When the musician plays the final song to lead you towards death.
A doleful dance to end your days,
A sad and melancholic dance to end your journey.
A doleful dance to end your days.
A sad and melancholic dance to end your journey.
Contributed by Nathaniel A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.