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.
Come Ye O
Steeleye Span Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Saw ye Geordie Whelps and his bonny woman?
Were ye at the place ca'd the Kittle Housie?
Saw ye Geordie's grace riding on a goosie?
Geordie he's a man there is little doubt o't;
He's done a' he can, wha can do without it?
Down there came a blade linkin' like my lordie;
Though the claith were bad, blythly may we niffer;
Gin we get a wab, it makes little differ.
We hae tint our plaid, bannet, belt and swordie,
Ha's and mailins braid -- but we hae a Geordie!
Jocky's gane to France and Montgomery's lady;
There they'll learn to dance: Madam, are ye ready?
They'll be back belyve belted, brisk and lordly;
Brawly may they thrive to dance a jig wi' Geordie!
Hey for Sandy Don! Hey for Cockolorum!
Hey for Bobbing John and his Highland Quorum!
Mony a sword and lance swings at Highland hurdie;
How they'll skip and dance o'er the bum o' Geordie!
The song "Cam Ye O'er Frae France" is a Scottish folk song that tells the tale of a group of people who have returned from France to Scotland. The singer is asking if they have seen Geordie Whelps and his wife, who are well known in the area. The song is filled with Scottish dialect and may prove difficult for non-Scots to understand.
Geordie Whelps is painted as a man of great importance and importance as he is mentioned repeatedly throughout the song. The song talks about Geordie's loom, which is where he weaves cloth. Even though the cloth may not be of the highest quality, the people are happy to trade with him as they know he is an honest man. The song also mentions the loss of various belongings such as a plaid, belt, sword, and hat, but despite this, they still have Geordie. The last few lines of the song talk about the Highlanders who are coming to dance with Geordie and introduce new music and culture to the area.
Overall, the song is a celebration of Scottish culture and the bonds between the people. It highlights the importance of community and the role each individual plays in supporting one another.
Line by Line Meaning
Cam ye o'er frae France? Cam ye down by Lunnon?
Did you come from France? Did you travel through London?
Saw ye Geordie Whelps and his bonny woman?
Did you see Geordie Whelps and his lovely wife?
Were ye at the place ca'd the Kittle Housie?
Did you visit the spot known as the Kittle House?
Saw ye Geordie's grace riding on a goosie?
Did you happen to see Geordie's highness riding on a goose?
Geordie he's a man there is little doubt o't;
There's no denying that Geordie is a man;
He's done a' he can, wha can do without it?
He's done everything he can, who can do without it?
Down there came a blade linkin' like my lordie;
Then along came a fellow strutting like a lord;
He wad drive a trade at the loom o' Geordie.
He sought to ply his trade at Geordie's loom.
Though the claith were bad, blythly may we niffer;
Even if the cloth was poor, we can still haggle happily;
Gin we get a wab, it makes little differ.
If we acquire a web of cloth, it doesn't matter much.
We hae tint our plaid, bannet, belt and swordie,
We have lost our plaid, bonnet, belt, and sword,
Ha's and mailins braid -- but we hae a Geordie!
As well as our homes and extensive lands -- but we still have Geordie!
Jocky's gane to France and Montgomery's lady;
Jocky has gone to France and so has the Lady Montgomery;
There they'll learn to dance: Madam, are ye ready?
There they will learn to dance: Madame, are you prepared?
They'll be back belyve belted, brisk and lordly;
They will return quickly, decked out regally and full of energy;
Brawly may they thrive to dance a jig wi' Geordie!
May they do well in all their endeavors, especially in dancing with Geordie!
Hey for Sandy Don! Hey for Cockolorum!
Hurrah for Sandy Don! Hurrah for Cockolorum!
Hey for Bobbing John and his Highland Quorum!
Hurrah for Bobbing John and his group of Highlanders!
Mony a sword and lance swings at Highland hurdie;
Many swords and lances swing at the Highland rumpus;
How they'll skip and dance o'er the bum o' Geordie!
How they will skip and dance over Geordie's buttocks!
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: MADDY PRIOR, PETER KNIGHT, RICK KEMP, ROBERT JOHNSON, TIM HART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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.