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.
Dancing At Whitsun
Steeleye Span Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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,
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.
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
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.