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.
The Bold Poachers
Steeleye Span Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One night in January
According laws contrary
A-poaching went straightway
They were inclined to ramble
Amongst the trees and brambles
A-firing at the pheasants
The keepers dared not enter
Nor cared the woods to venture
But outside near the centre
In them old bush they stood
The poachers they were tired
And to leave they were desired
At at last young Parkins fired
And spilled one keeper's blood
Fast homeward they were making
Nine pheasants they were taking
When another keeper faced them
They fired at him also
He on the ground lay crying
Just like some person dying
With no assistance nigh him
May God forgive their crime
Then they were taken with speed
All for that inhuman deed
It caused their hearts to bleed
For their young tender years
There seen before was never
Three brothers tried together
Three brothers condemned for poaching
Found guilty as they stood
Exiled in transportation
Two brothers they were taken
And the other hung as a token
May God forgive their crime
The Bold Poachers by Steeleye Span is a traditional English folk song that tells the tale of three young men who went poaching one night in January, breaking the laws contrary. The song describes them as inclined to ramble among the trees and brambles, firing at the pheasants, which brought the keepers nigh. The keepers, fearing for their safety, stood outside and waited for them to emerge. Young Parkins fired at one of the keepers, causing him to bleed, after which they made their way home, taking nine pheasants with them.
As they were leaving, another keeper faced them, and they fired at him as well. He fell on the ground, crying, with no assistance near him, so the song asks for God's forgiveness for their crime. They were taken and tried together, with their hearts bleeding for their young tender years when they were found guilty. Three brothers were seen before tried together for poaching. Two of them were exiled in transportation, and the other was hung as a token.
The song is a cautionary tale about the consequences of breaking the law and highlights the harsh punishments meted out to poachers in those times. The lyrics also reveal the class divide between the poachers, who were usually poor, and the keepers, who were mostly from affluent backgrounds. In addition, it brings to light the dangers of hunting and the importance of following the laws and regulations in place to protect the environment and wildlife.
Line by Line Meaning
Concerning of three young men
This is a story about three young men
One night in January
On a particular night in January
According laws contrary
Contrary to the existing hunting laws
A-poaching went straightway
They went poaching immediately
They were inclined to ramble
They liked to wander around
Amongst the trees and brambles
In the woods and bushes
A-firing at the pheasants
Shooting at the pheasants
Which brought the keepers nigh
This alerted the gamekeepers to their presence
The keepers dared not enter
The keepers were afraid to enter
Nor cared the woods to venture
They didn't care to venture into the woods
But outside near the centre
But waited outside in the center
In them old bush they stood
Hiding in the bushes
The poachers they were tired
The poachers were tired
And to leave they were desired
They wanted to leave
At at last young Parkins fired
Finally, young Parkins fired his weapon
And spilled one keeper's blood
And injured one of the keepers
Fast homeward they were making
They quickly went home
Nine pheasants they were taking
They stole nine pheasants
When another keeper faced them
When another keeper confronted them
They fired at him also
They also shot at him
He on the ground lay crying
He fell to the ground and cried out
Just like some person dying
As if he was dying
With no assistance nigh him
No one came to help him
May God forgive their crime
A plea for divine forgiveness for their wrongdoing
Then they were taken with speed
They were quickly captured
All for that inhuman deed
For their inhumane act
It caused their hearts to bleed
It caused them much grief and pain
For their young tender years
Because they were young and inexperienced
There seen before was never
There had never been seen before
Three brothers tried together
Three brothers tried in the same court
Three brothers condemned for poaching
Three brothers found guilty of poaching
Found guilty as they stood
They were found guilty of their crime
Exiled in transportation
Two brothers were exiled and transported to another location
Two brothers they were taken
Two of the brothers were taken away
And the other hung as a token
One brother was hanged as an example to others
May God forgive their crime
Another plea for divine forgiveness
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ben - Moderator
on Bonny Moorhen
Hi Stuart, We have corrected the description above.
Stuart Tartan
on Bonny Moorhen
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.