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.
Tam Lin
Steeleye Span Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That wear gold in your hair
To come or go by Carterhaugh
For young Tam Lin is there
If you go by Carterhaugh
You must leave him a wad
Either your rings or green mantle
She's away o'er gravel green
And o'er the gravel brown
She's away to Carterhaugh
To flour herself a gown
She had not pulled a rosy rose
A rose but barely one
When by came this brisk young man
Says, lady let alone
How dare you pull my rose, Madam?
How dare you break my tree?
How dare you come to Carter Hall
Without the leave of me?
Well may I pull the rose, she said
Well may I break the tree
For Carter Haugh it my father's
I'll ask no leave of thee
Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
He's taken her by the milk-white hand
And there he's laid her down
And there he asked no leave of her
As she lay on the ground.
Oh tell me, tell me, then she said
Oh tell me who art thee
My name it is Tam Lin, he said
And this is my story
As it fell out upon a day
A-hunting I did ride
There came a wind out of the north
And pulled me betide
And drowsy, drowsy as I was
The sleep upon me fell
The Queen of Fairies she was there
And took me to herself
Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
At the end of every seven years
They pay a tithe to Hell
And I'm so fair and full of flesh
I'm feared 'twill be myself
Tonight it is good Hallowe'en
The fairy court will ride
And if you would your true love win
At Miles Cross, you must bide
Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
Gloomy was the night
And eerie was the way
This lady in her green mantle
To Miles Cross she did go
With the holy water in her hand
She cast the compass round
At twelve o'clock the fairy court
Came riding o'er the mound
First came by the black steed
And then came by the brown
Then Tam Lin on the milk-white steed
With a gold star in his crown
She's pulled him down into her arms
And let the bridle fall
The Queen of Fairy she cried out
Young Tam Lin is away
They've shaped him in her arms
Into an roaring snake
She's held him fast and feared him not
To be her lovely mate
They've shaped him in her arms again
Fire burning bold
She's held him fast and feared him not
Till he was iron cold
They've shaped him in her arms
To a wood black beast so wild
She's held him fast and feared him not
The father of her child
They've shaped him in her arms at last
Into a naked man
She's wrapped him in the green mantle
And knew that she had him won
The Queen of Fairies she cried out
Young Tam Lin is away
Had I known, had I known, Tam Lin
Long before, long before you came from home
Had I known, I would have taken out your heart
And put in a heart of stone
Had I known, had I known, Tam Lin
That a lady, a lady would steal thee
Had I known, I would have taken out your eyes
And put into a rowan tree
Had I known, had I known, Tam Lin
That I would lose, that I would lose the day
Had I known, I would have paid my tithe to hell
Before you'd been won away
The lyrics to Steeleye Span's "Tam Lin" speak of a young maiden who is warned to stay away from Carterhaugh because Tam Lin is there. If she must go there, she must leave him either her rings or green mantle or her maidenhead. The maiden disregards the warning and goes to Carterhaugh to pluck a rose. Tam Lin appears and scolds her for picking his rose and breaking his tree without his permission. He reveals that he is the lord of the land and taken by the Fairy Queen. Every seven years, she must pay a tithe to Hell and fears it may be him next. The maiden is told that if she is to save him, she must wait for the fairy court on Hallowe'en night at Miles Cross, throw holy water round herself and capture him from the procession when he is on a milk-white steed with a gold star in his crown. She follows through with the instructions and succeeds in claiming Tam Lin from the fairy court, despite their efforts to stop her by transforming him into different creatures. The Fairy Queen curses them both, wishing she had taken out Tam Lin's heart and replaced it with a stone or his eyes and replaced them with a Rowan tree.
The song is based on a tale from Scottish folklore, the Ballad of Tam Lin, which dates back to the 16th century. The ballad has been modified and adapted over time and is believed to have originated from ancient pagan beliefs. The story of Tam Lin can be interpreted as the triumph of the forces of good over evil or the triumph of love over adversity. The song is a warning to young women not to be lured by the temptation of the otherworldly and that there are consequences for defying the supernatural.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I forbid you maidens all
I warn all young girls
That wear gold in your hair
not to wear gold in their hair
To come or go by Carterhaugh
and not to go through the area called Carterhaugh
For young Tam Lin is there
as the young man named Tam Lin lives there
If you go by Carterhaugh
If you do end up going through Carterhaugh anyway
You must leave him a wad
You must give him a gift
Either your rings or green mantle
Such as your rings or green cloak
Or else your maidenhead
Or your virginity
She's away o'er gravel green
The young lady walks quickly over green gravel
And o'er the gravel brown
And continues over brown gravel
She's away to Carterhaugh
to make herself a dress
To flour herself a gown
from the flowers they have there
She had not pulled a rosy rose
She had only picked a single rose
A rose but barely one
which is barely a handful
When by came this brisk young man
When a young man appeared
Says, lady let alone
He told her to leave the rose alone
How dare you pull my rose, Madam?
He asked her how she dared taking his rose
How dare you break my tree?
He also asked how she dared to break his tree
How dare you come to Carter Hall
And how she dared to enter Carter Hall without his permission
Without the leave of me?
Which means without asking for his permission beforehand
Well may I pull the rose, she said
The lady answered him
Well may I break the tree
Saying that she had every right to pull the rose
For Carter Haugh it my father's
Because her father owns the hall
I'll ask no leave of thee
And she does not owe him an explanation
Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
The dialogue moves on to a different scene
He's taken her by the milk-white hand
Tam Lin takes her by the hand
And there he's laid her down
He brought her down to the ground
And there he asked no leave of her
He did not ask for permission from the woman
As she lay on the ground
While lying on the ground
Oh tell me, tell me, then she said
The lady asks a question
Oh tell me who art thee
She wants to know the identity of the man
My name it is Tam Lin, he said
The man introduces himself as Tam Lin
And this is my story
And proceeds to tell his story
As it fell out upon a day
One day while he was hunting
A-hunting I did ride
He was riding during a hunting excursion
There came a wind out of the north
A north wind blew
And pulled me betide
And this wind caused something strange to happen to him
And drowsy, drowsy as I was
He became sleepy and lost his senses
The sleep upon me fell
He fell asleep
The Queen of Fairies she was there
The Fairy Queen appeared to him
And took me to herself
And took him as her own
At the end of every seven years
But he is worried
They pay a tithe to Hell
Because every seven years, someone must be forfeited to Hell
And I'm so fair and full of flesh
Tam Lin fears he will be chosen because of his good looks and being full of life
I'm feared 'twill be myself
He fears he will be forfeited
Tonight it is good Hallowe'en
The young lady who pulled the rose is listening
The fairy court will ride
And he tells her that tonight, the Fairy Queen and her court will come out to ride
And if you would your true love win
Tam Lin now tells the young lady
At Miles Cross, you must bide
That if she wants to save him, she must be at Miles Cross
Gloomy was the night
It sets the scene
And eerie was the way
The surroundings were eerie and frightening
This lady in her green mantle
The lady we followed earlier appears
To Miles Cross she did go
And headed towards Miles Cross
With the holy water in her hand
While carrying holy water
She cast the compass round
She cast circles around her with the water
At twelve o'clock the fairy court
At midnight, the Fairy Queen's court
Came riding o'er the mound
Arrived and rode over the hill
First came by the black steed
The first to appear was a black horse
And then came by the brown
Followed by a brown horse
Then Tam Lin on the milk-white steed
And finally Tam Lin appears on a white horse
With a gold star in his crown
With a gold star on his forehead
She's pulled him down into her arms
The lady rushed towards Tam Lin
And let the bridle fall
And released the reins on his horse
The Queen of Fairy she cried out
The Fairy Queen reacts by shouting
Young Tam Lin is away
Because Tam Lin is now free
They've shaped him in her arms
But things start to happen
Into an roaring snake
Tam Lin turns into a snake
She's held him fast and feared him not
But the young lady is not afraid of the snake
To be her lovely mate
She still held on to him and feels that Tam Lin is still her lover
They've shaped him in her arms again
Changes happen again
Fire burning bold
He turns into blazing flames
Till he was iron cold
Until he cooled down to iron
To a wood black beast so wild
He starts turning into a wild black beast
The father of her child
But the lady still cares for the transformed Tam Lin and believes that he is still the father of her child
They've shaped him in her arms at last
The finale approaches
Into a naked man
Tam Lin is now back to being a human
She's wrapped him in the green mantle
The young lady is relieved and covers him with her green cloak
And knew that she had him won
She won him back as her lover
The Queen of Fairies she cried out
But the Fairy Queen is not impressed
Had I known, had I known, Tam Lin
She regrets not knowing Tam Lin's fate earlier
Long before, long before you came from home
Before he came to this area
Had I known, I would have taken out your heart
She would have taken his heart out
And put in a heart of stone
And implanted a heart of stone instead of his human one
That a lady, a lady would steal thee
She villifies the lady for stealing Tam Lin
Had I known, I would have taken out your eyes
The Fairy Queen blames Tam Lin for not telling her sooner
And put into a rowan tree
She would have put his eyes in a rowan tree, aware of their healing properties
That I would lose, that I would lose the day
She is worried that she will lose the fight
Had I known, I would have paid my tithe to hell
The Fairy Queen would have paid the tithe to avoid what happened to Tam Lin
Before you'd been won away
Before Tam Lin was lost and had to be won back
Writer(s): Peter Knight, Maddy Prior, Robert Johnson
Contributed by Stella I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Christine Kaye
Oh, I forbid you maidens all
That wear gold in your hair
To come or go by Carterhaugh
For young Tam Lin is there
If you go by Carterhaugh
You must leave him a wad
Either your rings or green mantle
Or else your maidenhead
She's away o'er gravel green
And o'er the gravel brown
She's away to Carterhaugh
To flour herself a gown
She had not pulled a rosy rose
A rose but barely one
When by came this brisk young man
Says, lady let alone
How dare you pull my rose, Madam?
How dare you break my tree?
How dare you come to Carter Hall
Without the leave of me?
Well may I pull the rose, she said
Well may I break the tree
For Carter Haugh it my father's
I'll ask no leave of thee
Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
He's taken her by the milk-white hand
And there he's laid her down
And there he asked no leave of her
As she lay on the ground.
Oh tell me, tell me, then she said
Oh tell me who art thee
My name it is Tam Lin, he said
And this is my story
As it fell out upon a day
A-hunting I did ride
There came a wind out of the north
And pulled me betide
And drowsy, drowsy as I was
The sleep upon me fell
The Queen of Fairies she was there
And took me to herself
Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
At the end of every seven years
They pay a tithe to Hell
And I'm so fair and full of flesh
I'm feared 'twill be myself
Tonight it is good Hallowe'en
The fairy court will ride
And if you would your true love win
At Miles Cross, you must bide
Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
Gloomy was the night
And eerie was the way
This lady in her green mantle
To Miles Cross she did go
With the holy water in her hand
She cast the compass round
At twelve o'clock the fairy court
Came riding o'er the mound
First came by the black steed
And then came by the brown
Then Tam Lin on the milk-white steed
With a gold star in his crown
She's pulled him down into her arms
And let the bridle fall
The Queen of Fairy she cried out
Young Tam Lin is away
They've shaped him in her arms
Into an roaring snake
She's held him fast and feared him not
To be her lovely mate
They've shaped him in her arms again
Fire burning bold
She's held him fast and feared him not
Till he was iron cold
They've shaped him in her arms
To a wood black beast so wild
She's held him fast and feared him not
The father of her child
They've shaped him in her arms at last
Into a naked man
She's wrapped him in the green mantle
And knew that she had him won
The Queen of Fairies she cried out
Young Tam Lin is away
Had I known, had I known, Tam Lin
Long before, long before you came from home
Had I known, I would have taken out your heart
And put in a heart of stone
Had I known, had I known, Tam Lin
That a lady, a lady would steal thee
Had I known, I would have taken out your eyes
And put into a rowan tree
Had I known, had I known, Tam Lin
That I would lose, that I would lose the day
Had I known, I would have paid my tithe to hell
Before you'd been won away
ChuckDeFuque
Oh, I forbid you maidens all
That wear gold in your hair
To come or go by Carterhaugh
For young Tam Lin is there
If you go by Carterhaugh
You must leave him a wad
Either your rings or green mantle
Or else your maidenhead
She's away o'er gravel green
And o'er the gravel brown
She's away to Carterhaugh
To flour herself a gown
She had not pulled a rosy rose
A rose but barely one
When by came this brisk young man
Says, lady let alone
How dare you pull my rose, Madam?
How dare you break my tree?
How dare you come to Carter Hall
Without the leave of me?
Well may I pull the rose, she said
Well may I break the tree
For Carter Haugh it my father's
I'll ask no leave of thee
Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
He's taken her by the milk-white hand
And there he's laid her down
And there he asked no leave of her
As she lay on the ground.
Oh tell me, tell me, then she said
Oh tell me who art thee
My name it is Tam Lin, he said
And this is my story
As it fell out upon a day
A-hunting I did ride
There came a wind out of the north
And pulled me betide
And drowsy, drowsy as I was
The sleep upon me fell
The Queen of Fairies she was there
And took me to herself
Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
At the end of every seven years
They pay a tithe to Hell
And I'm so fair and full of flesh
I'm feared 'twill be myself
Tonight it is good Hallowe'en
The fairy court will ride
And if you would your true love win
At Miles Cross, you must bide
Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
Gloomy was the night
And eerie was the way
This lady in her green mantle
To Miles Cross she did go
With the holy water in her hand
She cast the compass round
At twelve o'clock the fairy court
Came riding o'er the mound
First came by the black steed
And then came by the brown
Then Tam Lin on the milk-white steed
With a gold star in his crown
She's pulled him down into her arms
And let the bridle fall
The Queen of Fairy she cried out
Young Tam Lin is away
They've shaped him in her arms
Into an roaring snake
She's held him fast and feared him not
To be her lovely mate
They've shaped him in her arms again
Fire burning bold
She's held him fast and feared him not
Till he was iron cold
They've shaped him in her arms
To a wood black beast so wild
She's held him fast and feared him not
The father of her child
They've shaped him in her arms at last
Into a naked man
She's wrapped him in the green mantle
And knew that she had him won
The Queen of Fairies she cried out
Young Tam Lin is away
Had I known, had I known, Tam Lin
Long before, long before you came from home
Had I known, I would have taken out your heart
And put in a heart of stone
Had I known, had I known, Tam Lin
That a lady, a lady would steal thee
Had I known, I would have taken out your eyes
And put into a rowan tree
Had I known, had I known, Tam Lin
That I would lose, that I would lose the day
Had I known, I would have paid my tithe to hell
Before you'd been won away.
neonmoon82
You are allowed to like both versions. They are each wonderful in their own right. There are also many other versions of this song.
Jim Penson - Bluegrass Musician
I'm always surprised how many people compare Maddy Prior to Sandy Denny unfavorably. They are two very distinct, yet very different voices. With voices this good, it's really not a matter of whose is better, just whose you like better. I listen to them and enjoy them both.
Robin Holmes
I like them both, but although Sandy Denny actually lived in my Village (Byfield) I think I prefer Steely Span. Sorry.
horowizard
Easily understood. Where Maddy Prior is like a Scottish Arie, Sandy Denny was more of a powerhouse.
Linus Mumford
Especially considering Maddy is the dame among them.. people can be pretty insolent sometimes!
Seph Shewell Brockway
Maddy Prior really captures the eeriness of the story of Tam Lin. They’re really two very different interpretations of the ballad, not just two different voices.
Debi Deason
I've listened to and loved Maddie Pryor for more than 35 years. Sandy Denny has a fine voice, but somehow I am drawn to Maddie. It might help that I experienced a true epiphany listening to A Tapestry of Carol's one cold winters night many years ago.....
Caroline Hogan
Thank you for posting this! I knew Steeleye had done a version of the ballad but their music is sadly rare.
Silver Girl
Why compare, indeed. I can only compare different moments of this rendition, and the incredible colors of Maddy Prior's voice as the song winds on are absolutely gripping. There are so many melodies, stanza sequences and lengths of this ballad that there is no rational way to say "X is the best one." The fiddle solo; the oboe quality of Prior's voice, and her subtle ornaments; the shifts of dynamics and tempos--this is a gorgeous and thrilling version
Demelza1964
Great song, great Scottish ballad, beautifully paired with Waterhouse paintings - perfect. Thanks for creating this mix.