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.
Horkstow Grange
Steeleye Span Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In Horkstow Grange there lived an old miser
You all do know him as I have heard say
It's him on his man that was named John Bowlin
And they fell out one market day
With a blackthorn stick old Steeleye struck him
As of times he had threatened before
And knocked old Steeleye into the floor
Old Steeleye Span he was filled with John Bowlin
It happened to be on a market day
Old Steeleye swore with all his vengeance
He would swear his life away
Pity them who see him suffer
Pity poor old Steeleye Span
John Bowlin's deeds they will be remembered
Pity poor old Steeleye Span
Pity poor old Steeleye Span
The song Horkstow Grange by Steeleye Span tells the story of an old miser who lived in Horkstow Grange. It is said that this miser, who is not named, had a servant named John Bowlin. One day, during a market day, they had a disagreement which led to a physical altercation. The old miser, who is referred to as "old Steeleye", struck John Bowlin with a stick, as he had threatened to do before. John Bowlin, however, retaliated and knocked old Steeleye to the ground. This incident filled old Steeleye with such anger that he swore to seek vengeance and was willing to swear his life away to see it done.
The lyrics of the song tell of pity for old Steeleye Span, who is suffering due to his own actions. His misplaced anger and desire for revenge have left him in a pitiable state, and his name will be remembered for this event. The song warns against holding onto grudges and seeking revenge, as it can only lead to suffering.
Overall, Horkstow Grange tells a cautionary tale about the dangers of anger and seeking revenge. It highlights the consequences of holding onto grudges and the importance of forgiveness and letting go.
Line by Line Meaning
In Horkstow Grange there lived an old miser
There was an old miser who lived at Horkstow Grange
You all do know him as I have heard say
As the story goes, it is said that you all know him
It's him on his man that was named John Bowlin
The old miser had a man called John Bowlin who worked for him
And they fell out one market day
One day, they had a disagreement on a market day
With a blackthorn stick old Steeleye struck him
Old Steeleye hit John Bowlin with a blackthorn stick
As of times he had threatened before
This was not the first time Old Steeleye had made threats to John Bowlin
John Bowlin turned round all in a passion
John Bowlin became very angry and turned around
And knocked old Steeleye into the floor
He hit old Steeleye and knocked him to the ground
Old Steeleye Span he was filled with John Bowlin
Old Steeleye was consumed with anger towards John Bowlin
It happened to be on a market day
This incident occurred during a market day
Old Steeleye swore with all his vengeance
Old Steeleye swore with a great deal of anger and hostility
He would swear his life away
He was willing to give up his life to carry out his revenge
Pity them who see him suffer
Those who witness his suffering should feel compassion for him
Pity poor old Steeleye Span
It is pitiful to see Old Steeleye suffer
John Bowlin's deeds they will be remembered
John Bowlin's actions will not be forgotten
Pity poor old Steeleye Span
It is shameful to see Old Steeleye suffer
Contributed by Carson N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Dez Yelding
Ace harmonies, Steeleye at their best.
Matt Hopper
Ah. I've just been sitting on a bench below Horkstow church looking across to the field where the Templar preceptory used to be. Saturday 26th of April 2019, the first really warm day of the year. The crows were incredibly noisy, looking after their nests, and the Templar site was full of sheep and their little lambs. I didn't want to come home to Hull....
Brian May
For me, it's not Steeleye Span without Maddie. Beautifully done, but not the same . . .
Christian Seydewitz
They sounds much better in this song !!! Maddie´s voice is not that soft and round.
DealReal12
Yes without Maddie, there is no Steeleye but this is pretty good and I enjoyed finally learning the origin of the band's name and the song that inspired it. I once saw Gay Woods with Steeleye Span at the Legendary Bottom Line in NYC. I'm pretty sure Maddy was on board at that show as well. In any event it was SPECTACULAR!
jonnybottle
Shame the map shown during the song doesn't actually show Horkstow.
I come from Winterton, diretly on the other side of the River Ancholme from Horkstow.
The house me and my Brother were born in was called "Winstow", a blend-word of Winterton and Horkstow. Bro'll have to remind me what the family connection to Horkstow is, but it always made me feel close to Steeleye Span.
And the fact that our Grandad, was also an ostler. As per R. S. Surtees, Mr Facey Romford's Hounds (1865), chapter 19, a `strong, persevering man, to clean horses'.
Ed Luhrs
This is ace.
Awet Afewerki
I don't like it because it is to sad for me to see
DealReal12
Sad for you to see? Maybe you are just a sad sop. Lmao and rolling in my sweet baby's arms.