Dancing At Whitsun
Steeleye Span Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's fifty long springtimes since she was a bride,
But still you may see her at each Whitsuntide
In a dress of white linen with ribbons of green,
As green as her memories of loving.

The feet that were nimble tread carefully now,
As gentle a measure as age will allow,
Through groves of white blossoms, by fields of young corn,
Where once she was pledged to her true-love.

The fields they stand empty, the hedges grow (go) free--
No young men to turn them or pastures go see (seed)
They are gone where the forest of oak trees before
Have gone, to be wasted in battle.

Down from the green farmlands and from their loved ones
Marched husbands and brothers and fathers and sons.
There's a fine roll of honor where the Maypole once stood,
And the ladies go dancing at Whitsun.

There's a straight row of houses in these latter days
All covering the downs where the sheep used to graze.
There's a field of red poppies (a gift from the Queen)




But the ladies remember at Whitsun,
And the ladies go dancing at Whitsun.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Steeleye Span's song "Dancing at Whitsun" is a poignant representation of the memories and emotions associated with the festival of Whitsun or Pentecost. The song is about a woman who is reminiscing about her youth and the love of her life, who may have died in war. The woman, who is now aged, dons a white linen dress with green ribbons every Whitsuntide, and walks through fields of young corn and groves of white blossoms. Her gentle steps showcase the ageing's effect on her agility while she remembers her youth's memories and her lost love. The song's reference to the lack of young men on the farms and the empty fields indicate that most of them died in battle. Despite that, the woman takes comfort in the fact that her fellow ladies still partake in the traditional Whitsun dance.


The song speaks volumes about the long-lasting effect of the trauma of war and the importance of memories and traditions in human life. The woman's dress of white linen with green ribbons symbolizes the purity and growth that she has experienced in life, and the fact that she dons it every Whitsuntide is a testament to her faith and the importance of traditions to her. The song describes how a group of women holds onto their traditions and memories. Even with the go-ahead modernization, they still find solace and enjoyment in their past life through their simple dance.


Line by Line Meaning

It's fifty long springtimes since she was a bride,
It has been fifty years since she got married during the season of spring.


But still you may see her at each Whitsuntide
Despite time moving on, she still participates in the Whitsun festival every year.


In a dress of white linen with ribbons of green,
She wears a white linen dress adorned with green ribbons when attending the festival.


As green as her memories of loving.
The green ribbons remind her of the loving memories she holds dear.


The feet that were nimble tread carefully now,
Her feet no longer move with ease as they used to, and she takes cautious steps.


As gentle a measure as age will allow,
She dances with movements that correspond to her age, yet still elegant.


Through groves of white blossoms, by fields of young corn,
She dances amidst flourishing fields, where young corn grows and white blossoms flourish.


Where once she was pledged to her true-love.
These fields are reminiscent of a time where she was engaged to her beloved.


The fields they stand empty, the hedges grow (go) free--
The fields are no longer populated by young lovers, and the hedges are unkept.


No young men to turn them or pastures go see (seed)
There are no young suitors left to tend the fields, or to sow seeds in the pastures.


They are gone where the forest of oak trees before
The young men who once tended the fields are now gone, as are the oak trees that used to dominate the forest.


Have gone, to be wasted in battle.
They have gone to fight battles, only to lose their lives in the end.


Down from the green farmlands and from their loved ones
Husbands, brothers, fathers, and sons left their families and farms behind to fight in wars.


Marched husbands and brothers and fathers and sons.
These men marched off to war, leaving their loved ones behind.


There's a fine roll of honor where the Maypole once stood,
A monument was built in honor of those who fought and lost their lives during the war, in the same spot where the Maypole used to be.


And the ladies go dancing at Whitsun.
Despite the losses during the war, the tradition of the Whitsun festival continues, with the ladies still dancing.


There's a straight row of houses in these latter days
In present times, houses are built in a straight line where the downs used to be.


All covering the downs where the sheep used to graze.
These houses now cover the downs where sheep used to graze.


There's a field of red poppies (a gift from the Queen)
A field of red poppies grows nearby, a gift from the Queen to commemorate those who were lost during the war.


But the ladies remember at Whitsun,
Despite the changing times and losses, the ladies continue to remember and celebrate tradition during the Whitsun festival.


And the ladies go dancing at Whitsun.
They dance still, full of life, with memories of the past.




Lyrics © SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: JOHN AUSTIN MARSHALL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

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.

More Versions