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 King
Steeleye Span Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
By your leave, we will sing concerning our king
Our king is well dressed, in the silks of the best
In ribbons so rare, no king can compare
We have travelled many miles, over hedges and stiles
In search of our king, unto you we bring
We have powder and shot to conquer the lot
we have cannon and ball to conquer them all
Old Christmas is past, twelve tide is the last
And we bid you adieu, great joy to the new
The lyrics to Steeleye Span's song The King capture the ambiance of a merry-making celebration. The lines, "Joy, health, love, and peace be all here in this place/ By your leave, we will sing concerning our king," set the tone for this festive time. The joyous atmosphere is emphasized by the mentions of the king, who is "well dressed, in the silk of the best/ In ribbons so rare, no king can compare." The arrival of the king is portrayed as the culmination of the travelers' journey, as they have "travelled many miles over hedges and stiles" in search of him.
The crowd is further depicted as well armed and ready for any challenge as they "have powder and shot to conquer the lot/ we have cannon and ball to conquer them all." The chorus breaks the news that "Old Christmas is past, twelve tide is the last," symbolizing the end of the celebrations. The final line, "And we bid you adieu, great joy to the new," concludes the revelry, leaving behind only fond memories.
Line by Line Meaning
Joy, health, love, and peace be all here in this place
We wish that happiness, good health, love, and peace are present in this place.
By your leave, we will sing concerning our king
With your permission, we will sing about our king.
Our king is well dressed, in the silks of the best
Our king is dressed finely, wearing the finest silk.
In ribbons so rare, no king can compare
The ribbons used in our king's attire are so uncommon that no other king could match them.
We have travelled many miles, over hedges and stiles
We have journeyed a long way, over fields and obstacles.
In search of our king, unto you we bring
We have come to present our king to you, whom we've been searching for.
We have powder and shot to conquer the lot
We have the necessary ammunition and firearms to conquer anything in our way.
we have cannon and ball to conquer them all
We have powerful artillery to defeat every enemy force.
Old Christmas is past, twelve tide is the last
The Christmas season has ended, and the twelfth night marks its conclusion.
And we bid you adieu, great joy to the new
We bid you farewell and hope that the new year brings you much joy.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: ASHLEY HUTCHINGS, TRADITIONAL, KENNETH NICOL, SIMON CARE, KELLIE WHILE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Spidercake2
I first heard this song when I was a kid in high school (1972) and thought my head would explode. I've been searching for the perfect chord ever since.
@billbrovold
Wow, Pretty much my story too!
@Noiseresearch
I love this track, it always makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up ... !! Such wonderful harmony
@ianclarke1852
The acid test of great music is not the opinion of experts but whether it makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
@AlterMann57
Long live the King! King Charles III....may God bless him as well!
@dbadagna
Joy, health, love and peace Be all here in this place By your leave we will sing Concerning our king Our king is well dressed In the silks of the best In ribbons so rare No king can compare
@latenightpilgrim
Aww hearing this again after some 40 yrs brings back many happy mems......they did harmonise so well....saw them several times, all in Ipswich Suffolk,where they got a huge reception!
@stephendsullivan
This is so beautiful as to be almost unbearable. (I love it.)
@Peregrin27
Check out Loreena McKennitt's version. It's brillant too
@davidrichardsonusher
January 5th is the 12th night of Christmas before Epiphany when the Magi visited infant Jesus. "The King" is the most beautiful song I know about it. The five most influential founders of the English folk-rock revolution in the 70s sing this song -- Ashley Hutchings, Maddy Prior, Martin Carthy, Peter Knight, and Tim Hart. Ashley Hutchings made it all happen including Fairport Convention, the Albion Dance Band, and other great groups . Ashley is singing bass on this cut, and is the guy in a suit and/or wearing small round glasses.