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.
Cadgwith Anthem
Steeleye Span Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For to rob bags of plunder it is our intent.
Chorus
As we roam through the valleys
Where the lilies and the roses
And the beauty of Kashmir lay drooping his head
Then away, then away
Where the robbers retreat
Hush, hush in the distance there's footsteps approaching
Stand, stand and deliver it is our watch cry.
The song Cadgwith Anthem by Steeleye Span paints a vivid picture of a group of robbers who gather together to plan their next successful heist. The lyrics start with an invitation to fill up glasses and be merry, but then quickly reveal their true intention of seeking out bags of plunder. The chorus speaks to their travels through valleys, admiring the beauty of nature, and then making their way to the caves in the mountains where they retreat after their robberies. The second verse is a call to action, urging the robbers to stand alert and deliver, using their watch cry to alert each other of possible danger.
This song is a wonderful example of how folk music can tell stories and describe the historical context of an era. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a group of robbers, similar to those of the 17th and 18th centuries, who often banded together to commit crimes. This song is also a depiction of the lawless regions of England during times of social unrest, with the robbers finding a haven in mountainous areas where the law could not easily reach them. Overall, Cadgwith Anthem is a song that showcases the power of storytelling through music, and provides a glimpse into a time long gone.
Line by Line Meaning
Come fill up your glasses and let us be merry,
Let us celebrate and have fun.
For to rob bags of plunder it is our intent.
We plan to steal treasure.
Chorus
Refrain
As we roam through the valleys
While we travel through the hills and valleys.
Where the lilies and the roses
Where beautiful flowers grow.
And the beauty of Kashmir lay drooping his head
And even the majestic beauty of nature seems subdued.
Then away, then away
We move on.
To the caves in yonder mountain
To the hidden caves in the distant mountain.
Where the robbers retreat
Where we hide away from the world to avoid being caught.
Hush, hush in the distance there's footsteps approaching
Shh, someone is coming our way.
Stand, stand and deliver it is our watch cry.
We will fight and steal what we want.
Contributed by Charlie K. 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.