Peace On The Border
Steeleye Span Lyrics


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After the riding we dispersed,
We drifted home in twos and threes.
Through cold and rain we spat and cursed,
This ancient war of families.

Armies past and then returned,
They killed and raped, they stole and burnt.
So from the cradle we have learnt,
To be as hard as stone.
And learned to stand alone.

(chorus)
They are gone now, the killing and disorder,
They're just ghosts now, the brigand and marauder.
And we give thanks for peace on the border,
We give thanks for peace on the border.

Cloak and dagger, crime on crime,
Anarchy in the borderlands.
The king's men came with a valentine,
To break to power of the border clans.

Some were hung, some sent away,
To Ireland and the low countries.
Great was the price they had to pay,
God bless their memory,
And god bless you and me.

The broken towers that stand today,
Stand for peace and order.




Reminding us until the day,
That we need no more borders.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Steeleye Span's song "Peace On The Border" are powerful and deeply insightful, exploring the theme of war and violence that has plagued humanity for centuries. The first verse describes the aftermath of a battle, with the soldiers returning home bitterly and cursing the conflict that tore them apart. Through these lines, we get a sense of the toll that war takes on the soldiers, who are left scarred and traumatized by the experience.


The second verse delves deeper into the history of the conflict, highlighting the vicious cycle of violence that has been perpetuated over the years. The armies of the past have pillaged and burned, leaving behind a trail of destruction and bloodshed. This has led the people to become hardened and untrusting, learning to stand alone and fight for themselves. The chorus, however, signals a ray of hope, with the singers acknowledging the end of the conflict and giving thanks for the peace that now exists on the border.


The third and final verse seems to offer a solution to the problem of war and violence, suggesting that the broken towers of the borderlands stand as a testament to the possibility of peace and order. While the song acknowledges the high price that has been paid in achieving this peace, it ultimately celebrates the triumph of hope over despair and the possibility of a brighter future.


Line by Line Meaning

After the riding we dispersed,
After the battle, the two sides went their separate ways.


We drifted home in twos and threes.
People slowly and informally headed back to their homes.


Through cold and rain we spat and cursed,
Despite the cold and rainy weather, people were angry and voiced their feelings with harsh words.


This ancient war of families.
This is an old war between families.


Armies past and then returned,
Armies came and left again.


They killed and raped, they stole and burnt.
During the battles, they killed, raped, stole, and burned.


So from the cradle we have learnt,
From birth, they have learned.


To be as hard as stone.
To be emotionally tough.


And learned to stand alone.
They learned how to be independent and fly solo.


(chorus)
The chorus talks about being grateful for peace on the border.


They are gone now, the killing and disorder,
Now the killing and chaos are over.


They're just ghosts now, the brigand and marauder.
The criminals are now gone, only spirits of the departed remain.


And we give thanks for peace on the border,
They are grateful for peace on the border.


Cloak and dagger, crime on crime,
This line describes the level of chaotic crime that was rampant.


Anarchy in the borderlands.
The lack of government made the area hard to control.


The king's men came with a valentine,
The king's men came with an invitation to surrender.


To break to power of the border clans.
They wanted to weaken the control of the border clans.


Some were hung, some sent away,
Some were executed, while others were exiled.


To Ireland and the low countries.
The exiled people were sent to Ireland and other nearby countries.


Great was the price they had to pay,
It cost them a lot to maintain power.


God bless their memory,
The writer is blessing the memory of the people who were lost.


And god bless you and me.
Blessing everyone.


The broken towers that stand today,
There are still ruined towers today.


Stand for peace and order.
They represent a time of peace and order.


Reminding us until the day,
They remind us until this very day.


That we need no more borders.
The writer makes it clear that there should be no more borders.




Contributed by Eva W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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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.