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.
Betsy Bell and Mary Gray
Steeleye Span Lyrics
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They were bonny lasses
They bigget a bower on yon burnside
And theekit it o'er wi' rashes
They theekit it o'er wi' rashes green
They theekit it o'er wi' heather
But the plague came from the burrows-town
They would not have their shoes of red
Nor would they have them yellow
But they would have their shoes of green
To ride through the streets of Yarrow
They thought to lye in Methren Kirk yard
Among their noble kin
But they were laid in Stronach Hall
All art beneath the sun
Betsy Bell and Mary Gray
They were bonny lasses
They bigget a bower on yon burnside
And theekit it o'er wi' rashes
The lyrics to Steeleye Span's song "Betsy Bell and Mary Gray" tell the tragic story of two young women who built a bower by a stream and covered it with rushes and heather. They were known for their beauty and were described as "bonny lasses." However, despite their efforts to create a safe haven for themselves, they were ultimately struck by a deadly outbreak of plague that came from nearby "burrows-town." The disease killed them both, leaving behind a sorrowful legacy.
The song is notable for its use of Scottish dialect, which adds to its authenticity and emotional impact. The choice of green shoes for the women to wear when they ride through the streets of Yarrow is symbolic - green is often associated with life, growth, and renewal, and the women's choice of footwear might suggest a desire to preserve their vitality and hope even in the face of danger.
Despite its gloomy subject matter, "Betsy Bell and Mary Gray" has endured as a popular traditional folk song. Its haunting melody and poignant lyrics have been covered by numerous artists over the years, including Fairport Convention and Joan Baez.
Line by Line Meaning
Betsy Bell and Mary Gray
This song is about two women named Betsy Bell and Mary Gray.
They were bonny lasses
Betsy Bell and Mary Gray were beautiful young women.
They bigget a bower on yon burnside
They built a home on the side of a stream.
And theekit it o'er wi' rashes
They covered the roof with rushes (a type of plant).
They theekit it o'er wi' rashes green
They covered the roof with green rushes.
They theekit it o'er wi' heather
They covered the roof with heather (a type of plant).
But the plague came from the burrows-town
But unfortunately, a plague came from a nearby town.
And it slew them baith tegither
And it killed both of them at the same time.
They would not have their shoes of red
Betsy and Mary did not want red shoes.
Nor would they have them yellow
They also did not want yellow shoes.
But they would have their shoes of green
However, they did want green shoes.
To ride through the streets of Yarrow
They wanted the green shoes to wear while riding their horses through the streets of Yarrow.
They thought to lye in Methren Kirk yard
Betsy and Mary thought they would be buried in Methren Kirk yard with their noble relatives.
Among their noble kin
With their noble family members.
But they were laid in Stronach Hall
However, they were actually buried in Stronach Hall.
All art beneath the sun
This is the final resting place for everyone.
Contributed by Lincoln S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ChuckDeFuque
Betsy Bell and Mary Gray
They were bonny lasses
They bigget a bower on yon burnside
And theekit it o'er wi' rashes.
They theekit it o'er wi' rashes green
They theekit it o'er wi' heather
But the plague came from the burrows-town
And it slew them baith thegither.
They would not have their shoes of red
Nor would they have them yellow
But they would have their shoes of green
To ride through the streets of Yarrow.
They thought to lye in Methren Kirk yard
Among their noble kin
But they were laid in Stronach Hall
All art beneath the sun.
Betsy Bell and Mary Gray
They were bonny lasses
They bigget a bower on yon burnside
And theekit it o'er wi' rashes.
@Xithinar
According to the sleevenotes from the album, Betsy Bell and Mary Gray were tow women who fled to the Scottish Highlands to escape the plague, but they managed to catch it off a young man who was bringing them food.
@selkieselkiechick1325
This song has been haunting me all month.
@bogfool
Love this so much. Haunting as hell.
@jelk1188
When they played this live at the Sydney Town Hall concert, the crowd was in shock and kept silent for a while before erupting into an insane applause. My goosebumps needed a few more minutes to disappear.
@sangravore
This song is beautiful. And if you get the chance, see it live. The electric violin is gorgeous.
@Xithinar
That's quite alright, I'm glad you like it.
@NotOrdinaryInGames
Thanks for answering!
@NotOrdinaryInGames
I like it too.
@Xithinar
No problem ;)
@NotOrdinaryInGames
Can anybody tell me what the song is about?