Steeleye Span formed in 1969 from members of Fairport Convention and out of… Read Full Bio ↴Steeleye Span formed in 1969 from members of Fairport Convention and out of the ashes of Sweeney's Men creating a distinctive fusion of both British folk with electric rock music. The resulting first version of the band was formed by ex-Fairport bassist Ashley Hutchings and built around two pairs of vocalists, Tim Hart and Maddy Prior and Gay & Terry Woods. Rhythm was to be supplied largely by Hutchings' bass, and without drums.

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.

Gaudete
Steeleye Span Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Gaudete, gaudete, Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine, gaudete
Gaudete, gaudete, Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine, gaudete

Tempus adest gratiae, hoc quod optabamus
Carmina laetitiae devote redamus

Gaudete, gaudete, Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine, gaudete
Gaudete, gaudete, Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine, gaudete

Deus homo factus est natura mirante
Mundus renovatus est a Christo regnante

Gaudete, gaudete, Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine, gaudete
Gaudete, gaudete, Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine, gaudete

Ezechielis porta clausa per transitur
Unde lux est orta salus invenitur

Gaudete, gaudete, Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine, gaudete
Gaudete, gaudete, Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine, gaudete

Ergo nostra cantio psallat iam in lustro
Benedicat domino salus regi nostro

Gaudete, gaudete, Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine, gaudete

Gaudete, gaudete, Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine, gaudete

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Steeleye Span's "Gaudete" are in Latin and translate to "Rejoice, rejoice, Christ is born/ Of the virgin Mary, rejoice/ Rejoice, rejoice, Christ is born/ Of the virgin Mary, rejoice/ The time of grace has come/ For which we have prayed/ Let us devoutly sing songs of joy." The song is a celebration of the birth of Christ and encourages listeners to rejoice and be grateful for God's grace.

The lyrics also reference the idea that "God became man" and "the world was renewed by Christ reigning." Biblical references are also used, such as the mention of the "closed gate of Ezekiel" opening and bringing forth "light and salvation." The final stanza encourages listeners to sing praises to the Lord and bless him for our salvation.

In summary, "Gaudete" is a joyful hymn that celebrates the birth of Christ and reminds listeners of God's grace and the renewal that comes through Christ.

Line by Line Meaning

Gaudete, gaudete, Christus est natus
Rejoice, rejoice, Christ is born

Ex Maria virgine, gaudete
From the virgin Mary, rejoice

Tempus adest gratiae, hoc quod optabamus
The time of grace has come, what we have desired

Carmina laetitiae devote redamus
Let us devoutly sing songs of joy

Deus homo factus est natura mirante
God is made man, to the wonder of nature

Mundus renovatus est a Christo regnante
The world is renewed by Christ's reign

Ezechielis porta clausa per transitur
Through Ezekiel's closed gate is the journey made

Unde lux est orta salus invenitur
Hence the light is come, salvation is found

Ergo nostra cantio psallat iam in lustro
Therefore let our song resound in brightness

Benedicat domino salus regi nostro
Let our salvation bless the Lord, our King

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MICHAEL PHILIP MCGLYNN, . TRADITIONAL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS

Genre not found

Artist not found

Album not found

Search results not found

Song not found

Ben - Moderator

on Bonny Moorhen

51w

Hi Stuart, We have corrected the description above.

Stuart Tartan

on Bonny Moorhen

51w

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.

just now