Arbour
Steeleye Span formed in 1969 from members of Fairport Convention and out of… Read Full Bio ↴Steeleye Span formed in 1969 from members of Fairport Convention and out of the ashes of Sweeney's Men creating a distinctive fusion of both British folk with electric rock music. The resulting first version of the band was formed by ex-Fairport bassist Ashley Hutchings and built around two pairs of vocalists, Tim Hart and Maddy Prior and Gay & Terry Woods. Rhythm was to be supplied largely by Hutchings' bass, and without drums.

Tensions between the band grew during the production in 1970 of their first album, Hark! The Village Wait to the point where they never again worked together after its completion, but the music itself shows no signs of these difficulties. While having a rock sensibility there is a greater sense of the authentic folk tradition than even in the best of Fairport, and a particular beauty arising from the two pairs of voices. The Woods being replaced by admired folk stalwart Martin Carthy, with violinist Peter Knight to widen the musical textures, the group late in 1970 recorded their most admired record Please to see the King. Ten Man Mop followed in 1971, more accomplished but generally felt to be less exciting. The expensive gatefold sleeve swallowed the band's royalties, and was referred to as a tombstone, since Hutchings and Carthy then left, to pursue Hutchings' new vision of a specifically English strand of folk rock with The Albion Band, and Steeleye Mk 2 folded.

However the inclusion of the less celebrated and more rock orientated replacements Rick Kemp and Bob Johnson led to the most commercially successful phase in the band's existence, vocalist Maddy Prior becoming the primary focus of the band, and a run of well received albums, from Below the Salt and Now we Are Six, their first with drummer Nigel Pegrum, to their eighth, and most commercially successful, All Around my Hat, in 1975.

Still active, they have a claim to be one of the longest-lived and perhaps the most commercially successful of all the folk rock bands of the era, thanks to their hit singles Gaudete and All Around My Hat, 3 top 40 albums and even a certified "gold" record with All Around My Hat.

Tim Hart died of lung cancer on 24 December 2009, aged 61.

Arbour
Steeleye Span Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

And the evergreen flame
Together in a dark day
Appears symbolic

Even in the dream
There is mysterious
Mystical promise
In the two together
And these combined
With a smoldering sultry gray
Almost moonlit

But daytime sky




As if the gray deep clouds are moving
Being blown by an eastern wind

Overall Meaning

In the song Arbour by Steeleye Span, the lyrics talk about the evergreen flame and how it appears symbolic of something. The flame could be representing eternal love or the resilience of nature. It is interesting to note that the word evergreen is often associated with Christmas trees representing rebirth and renewal. This could also be a message in the song, that even in the darkest times, there is promise for something new and hopeful.


The lyrics also mention a dream where there is a mysterious and mystical promise. Dreams are often thought to symbolize the subconscious mind and can reveal hidden truths or desires. The promise in the dream could be a sign of hope or an indication of something that the person is longing for. The lyrics also highlight the idea of two things being combined, the smoldering sultry gray and the almost moonlit sky. This could symbolize the balance of light and dark or good and evil.


Overall, the lyrics in Arbour by Steeleye Span leave a lot of room for personal interpretation and reflection. The song could be seen as a message for finding hope during difficult times or as an exploration of the self through dreams and symbolism.


Line by Line Meaning

And the evergreen flame
The eternal flame that never dies


Together in a dark day
Burning brightly in times of darkness


Appears symbolic
Seems to carry a deeper meaning


Even in the dream
Even in one's imagination


There is mysterious
Something inexplicable and enchanting


Mystical promise
Hint of magic and wonder


In the two together
The combination of two forces


And these combined
Their unity


With a smoldering sultry gray
With a hazy and intense grey hue


Almost moonlit
Resembling the quality of moonlight


But daytime sky
But in the light of day


As if the gray deep clouds are moving
As though the dark clouds are shifting and changing


Being blown by an eastern wind
Carried along by a gust from the East




Contributed by Asher W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found

Ben - Moderator


on Bonny Moorhen

Hi Stuart, We have corrected the description above.

Stuart Tartan


on Bonny Moorhen

The song Bonny Moorhen by Steeleye Span is a traditional Scottish ballad that tells the story of a bird, the Bonny Moorhen, and its journey through the glen and over the sea. The narrator of the song expresses affection and admiration for the bird and asks others to toast its health when they are out drinking. The Bonny Moorhen is described as having a rainbow of feathers, including blue, which is unusual for a bird, and invites it to come to the narrator. However, in the second verse, the song takes a darker turn as the narrator reveals that the bird has gone over the sea and will not return until the summer. But when it does return, only certain people will know, suggesting that not everyone will be happy about the Bonny Moorhen's return. The third verse introduces a new element to the story, two men named Ronald and Donald who are out on the fen, presumably trying to hunt or harm the bird. The narrator calls for the Bonny Moorhen to come to them for safety. Overall, the song is a mix of admiration for the beauty of nature and a warning about the dangers that can lurk in it. The Bonny Moorhen represents something pure and innocent, but there are those who would try to harm it, and the song is a call to protect it.

This description of the song completely misses the point in every way. It IS NOT about a bird.
It is an allegorical Jacobite-era song about Bonny Prince Charlie (the bonny moorhen). The colours mentioned, for instance, are the colours of the Clan Stuart tartan.