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.
Seven Hundred Elves
Steeleye Span Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seven hundred elves from out the wood
Foul and grim they were
Down to the farmer's house they went
His meat and drink to share
There was a farmer in the west and there he chose his ground
He thought to spend the winter there and brought his hawk and hound
And all the dear that roamed the wood had cause to rue the day
He felled the oak, he felled the birch, the beech nor poplar spared
And much was grieved the sullen elves at what the stranger dared
He hewed him baulks and he hewed him beams with eager toil and haste
Then up and spake the woodland elves: "Who's come our wood to waste?"
Chorus
Up and spake the biggest elf and grimly rolled his eyes:
"We'll march upon the farmer's house and hold on him assize
He's knocking down both wood and bower, he shows us great distain
We'll make him rue the day he was born and taste of shame and pain."
Chorus
All the elves from out the wood began to dance and spring
And marched towards the farmer's house their lengthy tails to swing
The farmer from his window looked and quickly crossed his breast
"Oh woe is me," the farmer cried, "The elves will be my guests."
In every nook he made a cross and all about the room
And off flew many a frightened elf back to his forest gloom
Some flew to the east, some flew to the west, some flew to the north away
And some flew down the deep ravine and there forever stay
Chorus
The lyrics to Steeleye Span's song "Seven Hundred Elves" recount a tale about a farmer who chooses to spend the winter in the woods, and ends up encroaching on the territory of the woodland elves. The first verse sets the scene, as the elves arrive at the farmer's house uninvited to share in his food and drink. The following verses tell the story of the farmer chopping down trees and building a house, only to anger the elves who see his actions as an affront to their forest home. The elves decide to exact revenge on the farmer and his abode, and this sets up the dramatic climax of the song. The final verse describes the panicked actions of the farmer as he tries to protect himself from the invading elves, ultimately succeeding in driving them back into the forest by placing crosses around his home.
The song can be seen as a cautionary tale about the dangers of human beings encroaching on the natural world, and the consequences that can follow from such actions. It also offers a glimpse into the world of folklore and mythology, with its portrayal of mischievous and vengeful elves who can be both helpful and dangerous to humans.
Line by Line Meaning
Seven hundred elves from out the wood
A large group of elves emerged from the woods
Foul and grim they were
The elves had a menacing appearance
Down to the farmer's house they went
The elves traveled to the farmer's house
His meat and drink to share
The elves planned to take the farmer's food and drink
There was a farmer in the west and there he chose his ground
A farmer settled in the western area
He thought to spend the winter there and brought his hawk and hound
The farmer intended to stay for the winter, bringing his hunting animals
He brought with him both hound and cock alone he begged to stay
The farmer requested to stay alone with his dog and rooster
And all the dear that roamed the wood had cause to rue the day
The deer in the woods would regret the farmer's presence
He felled the oak, he felled the birch, the beech nor poplar spared
The farmer cut down many trees without discrimination
And much was grieved the sullen elves at what the stranger dared
The elves were upset by the farmer's destruction in their forest
He hewed him baulks and he hewed him beams with eager toil and haste
The farmer worked hard to cut and shape large wooden pieces
Then up and spake the woodland elves: "Who's come our wood to waste?"
The elves questioned who had come to destroy their forest
Up and spake the biggest elf and grimly rolled his eyes:
The largest elf spoke up, giving an intimidating appearance
"We'll march upon the farmer's house and hold on him assize
The elves decided to attack the farmer and hold him accountable
He's knocking down both wood and bower, he shows us great distain
The farmer's destruction shows disrespect to the elves
We'll make him rue the day he was born and taste of shame and pain."
The elves will make the farmer regret his actions
All the elves from out the wood began to dance and spring
The elves started to move and dance
And marched towards the farmer's house their lengthy tails to swing
The elves moved towards the farmer's house with their tails swinging
The farmer from his window looked and quickly crossed his breast
The farmer saw the elves approaching and panicked
"Oh woe is me," the farmer cried, "The elves will be my guests."
The farmer worried about the elves entering his home
In every nook he made a cross and all about the room
The farmer placed crosses in every corner of the room
And off flew many a frightened elf back to his forest gloom
The sight of the crosses frightened many of the elves and they fled
Some flew to the east, some flew to the west, some flew to the north away
The elves fled in every direction
And some flew down the deep ravine and there forever stay
Some of the elves fled to a deep ravine where they stayed permanently
Seven hundred elves from out the wood
The large group of elves left the area
Foul and grim they were
The menacing appearance of the elves remained
Down to the farmer's house they went
The elves had attempted to take the farmer's food and drink
His meat and drink to share
The elves planned to take the farmer's food and drink
Contributed by Claire G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Greg C246
[Chorus]
Seven hundred elves from out the wood
Foul and grim they were
Down to the farmer's house they went
His meat and drink to share
There was a farmer in the west and there he chose his ground
He thought to spend the winter there and brought his hawk and hound
He brought with him both hound and cock alone he begged to stay
And all the deer that roamed the wood had cause to rue the day
He felled the oak, he felled the birch, the beech nor poplar spared
And much was grieved the sullen elves at what the stranger dared
He hewed him baulks and he hewed him beams with eager toil and haste
Then up and spake the woodland elves: "Who's come our wood to waste?"
[Chorus]
Up and spake the biggest elf and grimly rolled his eyes:
"We'll march upon the farmer's house and hold on him assize
He's knocking down both wood and bower, he shows us great distain
We'll make him rue the day he was born and taste of shame and pain."
[Chorus]
All the elves from out the wood began to dance and spring
And marched towards the farmer's house their lengthy tails to swing
The farmer from his window looked and quickly crossed his breast
"Oh woe is me," the farmer cried, "The elves will be my guests."
In every nook he made a cross and all about the room
And off flew many a frightened elf back to his forest gloom
Some flew to the east, some flew to the west, some flew to the north away
And some flew down the deep ravine and there forever stay
[Chorus]
redcardinalist
borgduck
Well you might not, tricky things elves and faeries generally. Remember, they're not human in any way whatsoever. Best avoided all round.
If you do, remember the cardinal rules:-
1. Don't accept any offer to dance the night away in the faeries realm
2. Don't eat or drink anything of faerie origin
3. never look back ;)
geekygirlalexia
To quote Terry Pratchett:
"Elves are wonderful. They provoke wonder.
Elves are marvellous. They cause marvels.
Elves are fantastic. They create fantasies.
Elves are glamorous. They project glamour.
Elves are enchanting. They weave enchantment.
Elves are terrific. They beget terror.
The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.
No one ever said elves are nice.
Elves are bad."
Tim Horton
This is a great version, and Maddy Prior is just fantastic.
phillywilly01
I grew up listening (and singing) to Steeleye, me and my sister sitting there with my dad's treasured Vinyl collection. Maddy Priors voice and the lyrics...FAB. Seven hundred elves is my favourite song
Merkaba Light
Met this band in the early 70s but knew their music from the beginning and brought them to my university. I’m not British per se but my heritage is Scot-English. Their music, with all the musicians that have come and gone, including Tim Hart, resonates with me and connects with me from the distant past. Steeleye Span’s music is evocative and somehow makes me bigger than I normally am.
Victor Hex
I have heard this song a hundred times, but the skill that it took to make it is not apparent until we see the interaction of the band, very well done.
Anthony Davies
Amazing band , amazing song . Remember seeing this on TV in the 70s . Just as good today .
gardensofthegods
I'd love to go back to 1974 when people seem to so much more civilized
Andrew Petrie
My love for this band is something.
WILLIAM BEAVER
I graduated high school in 1974. So this video has some meaning to me. The lady singing has a beautiful voice plus it's a great song. I love this gal's outfit too--just makes for a gorgeous video.
Russell Reising
thanks so much for posting this one!! Great live performance.
trev dowson
i saw this line up of span in redcar cotham bowl in 1983, if i had one wish in life it would be to to go back to that night to relive it. the best band i ever saw live and a fantastic set, they were really on form. great crowd of people watching who all seemed to know the songs and loved a dance with maddy. do you remember? clare, manny, si, johnny, gord. love to you all