Batchelors Hall
Steeleye Span Lyrics


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Traditional

I rode seven horses all to death
I rode them till they had no breath
I wore five saddles to the trees
None of those girls will marry me.

Those women will fret, those women will fuss
They spend five hours before their glass
The devil take all, I'll have no money at all
Always stay single, keep Batchelors' Hall.
Stay stay close to my door

The women round here, they live by the door
They hear but a word, and repeat it twice o'er
Then they add it as much as they can
Always stay single a bachelor man.

Batchelors' Hall is always the best
If you're sick drunk or sober it's always a rest
No woman to scold you, no children to bawl
Always stay single, keep Batchelors' Hall.
Stay stay close to my door





Batchelors' Hall, Batchelors' Hall,
I'll always stay single, keep Batchelors' Hall.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Steeleye Span's "Batchelors Hall" tell the story of a man who has ridden seven horses to their death and worn out five saddles in his pursuit of love but has been repeatedly rejected by the women he seeks to marry. The man finds comfort in the idea of remaining single and living in Batchelors Hall, a place where he can avoid the nagging of a wife and the crying of children. The song is a humorous take on the joys and perils of bachelorhood.


In the first stanza, the man boasts about his efforts to win the affections of women, riding seven horses to death in his quest. Despite his efforts, however, he remains single, as the women refuse to marry him. The second stanza describes the women in the area as gossipers who repeat words and add to them their own fanciful details, making the man's romantic pursuits even harder. The chorus encourages the idea of staying single and avoiding the problems that come with marriage, citing Batchelors Hall as the ideal place to do so.


The third and final stanza further elaborates on the benefits of Batchelors Hall. The man notes that it is a place of rest for those who are sick or drunk, where there are no women to scold or children to bawl. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the message that the best option for this man is to remain single and live in Batchelors Hall.


Line by Line Meaning

I rode seven horses all to death
I worked and exhausted myself completely


I rode them till they had no breath
I pushed myself and my horses to the brink of exhaustion


I wore five saddles to the trees
I traveled and worked hard to the point of damaging my saddles and equipment


None of those girls will marry me.
I'm not a desirable partner because of my lifestyle and attitude


Those women will fret, those women will fuss
Women in this community are overly concerned with trivial matters


They spend five hours before their glass
Women in this community are vain and spend excessive time on their appearance


The devil take all, I'll have no money at all
I'm not concerned with wealth or material possessions


Always stay single, keep Batchelors' Hall.
I find it more fulfilling and peaceful to remain unmarried and live on my own


Stay stay close to my door
I prefer to keep to myself within my own space


The women round here, they live by the door
Women in this community are nosy and constantly gossiping near doorways


They hear but a word, and repeat it twice o'er
Women in this community are prone to exaggeration and repetition


Then they add it as much as they can
Women in this community inflate rumors and gossip with their own embellishments


Always stay single a bachelor man.
I reject the pressure and expectations put on me by society to marry and start a family


Batchelors' Hall is always the best
Living alone in bachelorhood is the most ideal and comfortable option for me


If you're sick drunk or sober it's always a rest
Living alone provides a reliable and peaceful refuge even during hard times


No woman to scold you, no children to bawl
Living alone allows me to avoid conflicts and drama that arise in relationships and parenthood


Batchelors' Hall, Batchelors' Hall,
My solo lifestyle and living space is a source of comfort and pride for me


I'll always stay single, keep Batchelors' Hall.
I am committed to living in solitude and valuing my independence




Contributed by William S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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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.