Beyond the Dreaming Place
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.

Beyond the Dreaming Place
Steeleye Span Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Beyond the dreaming place
I watch from my darkness
All the stars I know
Kiss your head, my love
Beyond the dreaming place

And no backward journey
Nothing's left of that time
That door is shut forever




Now is the time to move on
Beyond the dreaming place

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Steeleye Span's song Beyond the Dreaming Place explores the idea of moving on from the past and leaving it behind to embrace the present and the future. The first verse mentions the dreaming place, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for a place of nostalgia or past memories. The persona remains in darkness and watches as their loved one is bestowed with all the stars they know. This could be interpreted as a way of saying that they acknowledge their loved one's greatness and the vast possibilities that lay ahead of them.


The second verse implies that there is no turning back from the present. Nothing is left of the past and the door is forever shut. Now is the time to move on and leave the past where it belongs. Perhaps this could be interpreted as a message to let go of past grievances, hurts or other negative emotions that might hinder one's progress in life. The phrase "beyond the dreaming place" could also be interpreted as a way of saying that the persona is ready to embrace life beyond the confines of their past or the limitations they may have allowed themselves to have.


Overall, the song's lyrics provide a hopeful message that encourages its listener to move forward, embrace the present and leave the past behind.


Line by Line Meaning

Beyond the dreaming place
I am beyond the realm of dreams


I watch from my darkness
I observe from my hidden, introspective state


All the stars I know
The constellations I recognize


Kiss your head, my love
Gently caressing your forehead, my beloved


Beyond the dreaming place
I am beyond the realm of dreams


And no backward journey
It's impossible to go back


Nothing's left of that time
There's nothing remaining from the past


That door is shut forever
That opportunity is lost permanently


Now is the time to move on
It's the moment to progress forward


Beyond the dreaming place
I am beyond the realm of dreams




Contributed by Eli H. 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.