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.
Cadwith Anthem
Steeleye Span Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For to rob bags of plunder it is our intent.
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
To the caves in yonder mountain
Where the robbers retreat
Stand, stand and deliver it is our watch cry.
The song "Cadwith Anthem" by Steeleye Span portrays the perspective of a group of robbers planning to steal from travelers as they roam through the valleys of Kashmir. The opening verse invites everyone to fill up their glasses and be merry as they proceed with their intentions of robbery. This shows that the robbers are enjoying their lives and do not feel bad about the actions they are about to partake in. They see it as a way to earn a living and enjoy the thrills that come with it.
As they progress through their journey, they pass through valleys and witness the beauty of Kashmir. It is interesting to note that they do not seem to be moved by the scenic views around them but rather are focused on their objective of robbing bags of plunder. The following verses describe their retreat to the caves in the mountains and how they use a watch cry to ask their victims to stand and deliver. The last line brings out the essence of the song - it portrays that the robbers are not afraid of being caught for their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Come fill up your glasses and let us be merry
Let's celebrate and have a good time together
For to rob bags of plunder it is our intent
Our intention is to steal valuable things by force
As we roam through the valleys
We wander around in the valleys
Where the lilies and the roses
Where beautiful flowers can be found
And the beauty of Kashmir lay drooping his head
The beautiful scenery of Kashmir is sadly being destroyed
Then away, then away
Let's go, let's go
To the caves in yonder mountain
We're headed to the caves on the mountain over there
Where the robbers retreat
A place where thieves like to hide
Hush, hush in the distance there's footsteps approaching
Be quiet, someone is coming in the distance
Stand, stand and deliver it is our watch cry
Stop and surrender, that's our command
Writer(s): Rose Prince, Trevor Frederick Grills, Nigel Sherratt, Jeremy David Brown, Louise Brown, Jonathan Robert Cleave, John Anthony Brown, Michael William Hawkins, Julian Nicholas Brown, John Leonard Mcdonnell, Traditional, Christopher John Lethbridge, Rupert Christie, Richard Peter Rowe
Contributed by Claire R. 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.