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.
Bonny Irish Boy
Steeleye Span Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As I roved out one morning
All in the blooming spring
I overheard a damsel
Most grievously sing -
Saying cruel were my parents
Who did me sore annoy
His hair is like the chestnut brown,
His eyes as black as sloes;
He is meek in his behaviour
Wherever that he goes
He is well-sized, both neat and wise,
Like a maiden's chastity.
If I had my will I would be still
In my love's company.
If I had all the riches now
That great men have in store,
'Tis freely I'd bestow them
On the man that I adore;
His beauty so entangled me
I never can deny.
In the arms of my labouring boy
I mean to live and die.
The song "Bonny Irish Boy" by Steeleye Span tells the story of a young woman who is deeply in love with her Irish beau, but her parents disapprove of their relationship. The opening lines reveal that the girl is distraught by her parents' cruelty towards her as they forbade her from staying with her lover. She sings a mournful ballad about her feelings of sadness and pain at having to be separated from her bonny Irish boy.
The song goes on to describe the physical features and the good qualities of her lover. She mentions that he has beautiful chestnut brown hair and black eyes, and that he is meek and well-behaved wherever he goes. She also comments on his perfect size, wisdom, and chastity, which speak volumes about his values and character. She is so much in love with him that she wants to spend her entire life in his arms, even if it means going against societal norms and sacrificing the wealth that she could have had.
Overall, "Bonny Irish Boy" is a poignant representation of an intercultural love story that is challenged by societal restrictions. The song captures the depths of the girl's feelings and the beauty and goodness of her lover. It's a powerful reminder that true love can sometimes come up against obstacles, but it can also endure against all odds.
Line by Line Meaning
As I roved out one morning
One day while out walking in the woods,
All in the blooming spring
During the beautiful spring season,
I overheard a damsel
I heard a young lady,
Most grievously sing -
Sing a sad song,
Saying cruel were my parents
Complaining that her parents were cruel to her,
Who did me sore annoy
Causing her great annoyance,
They would not let me tarry with my bonny Irish boy
They wouldn't allow her to stay with her handsome Irish boyfriend
His hair is like the chestnut brown,
Her boyfriend has brown hair,
His eyes as black as sloes;
His eyes are dark and deep like sloes,
He is meek in his behaviour
He's well-behaved and gentle,
Wherever that he goes
Wherever he travels,
He is well-sized, both neat and wise,
He's of average height, well-groomed, and intelligent,
Like a maiden's chastity.
As pure as a virgin's chastity.
If I had my will I would be still
If she had her way, she would remain,
In my love's company.
By her lover's side.
If I had all the riches now
Even if she had all the wealth in the world,
That great men have in store,
Which wealthy men possess,
'Tis freely I'd bestow them
She would give them all away,
On the man that I adore;
To the man she loves;
His beauty so entangled me
She's so captivated by his beauty,
I never can deny.
She can't help but admit it.
In the arms of my labouring boy
She wants to spend her life with her hard-working lover,
I mean to live and die.
She's committed to being with him forever.
Contributed by Bentley V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ben - Moderator
on Bonny Moorhen
Hi Stuart, We have corrected the description above.
Stuart Tartan
on Bonny Moorhen
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.