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.
Thomas The Rhymer
Steeleye Span Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And he beheld a lady gay
A lady that was brisk and bold
Come riding o'er the ferny brae
True Thomas, he pulled off his cap
And bowed him low down to his knee
"All hail, thou mighty Queen of Heaven
Harp and carp, come along with me
Thomas the Rhymer
Harp and carp, come along with me
Thomas the Rhymer
Harp and carp, come along with me
Thomas the Rhymer
She turned about her milk white steed
And they rode faster than the wind
Until they came to a desert wide
And living land was left behind
For forty days and forty nights
They rode through red blood to the knee
And they saw neither sun nor moon
But heard the roaring of the sea
Don't you see yon bonnie, bonnie road
That lies across the ferny brae?
That is the road to fair Elfland
Where you and I this night must go"
Harp and carp, come along with me
Thomas the Rhymer
Harp and carp, come along with me
Thomas the Rhymer
Harp and carp, come along with me
Thomas the Rhymer
Harp and carp, come along with me
Thomas the Rhymer
Harp and carp, come along with me
Thomas the Rhymer
Harp and carp, come along with me
Thomas the Rhymer
Harp and carp, come along with me
Thomas the Rhymer
Harp and carp, come along with me
Thomas the Rhymer
The lyrics of Steeleye Span's song "Thomas the Rhymer" were inspired by a Scottish legend about a man named Thomas who was taken to the land of the fairies, also known as "Elfland." In the song, Thomas is sitting by the bank of Huntley when he encounters a lady riding a white steed. She is described as "brisk and bold," indicating that she is not an ordinary mortal. Thomas is captivated by her beauty and pays homage to her by bowing down to his knee, acknowledging her as the "mighty Queen of Heaven." The lady then invites him on a journey to Elfland by riding faster than the wind until they reach a desert land where living beings are scarce. For 40 days and 40 nights, they ride through red blood, representing the challenges and dangers of their journey. They finally arrive at their destination where they must spend the night, immersed in the enchantment and beauty of the land.
The song delves into the theme of enchantment and the mystical world beyond the physical realm. The lyrics paint a picture of a journey that transcends time and space, where the boundaries between the worlds of mortals and fairies are blurred. The repetition of "Harp and carp, come along with me, Thomas the Rhymer" connotes the idea that music has the power to create a connection between the human world and the fairy world, and that Thomas' ryming abilities have allowed him access to this realm.
Line by Line Meaning
True Thomas sat on Huntley bank
The story begins with True Thomas sitting by the Huntley riverbank.
And he beheld a lady gay
He saw a cheerful and beautiful lady.
A lady that was brisk and bold
She was energetic and confident.
Come riding o'er the ferny brae
She was riding over the hilly and grassy landscape.
True Thomas, he pulled off his cap
True Thomas took off his hat as a sign of respect.
And bowed him low down to his knee
He humbly kneeled before her.
"All hail, thou mighty Queen of Heaven
He worshiped her and called her the powerful Queen of Heaven.
Your like on earth I ne'er did see"
He praised her as the most magnificent person he had ever seen.
Harp and carp, come along with me
The lady invites Thomas to join her on a musical journey.
Thomas the Rhymer
The lady refers to Thomas as a skilled poet or bard.
She turned about her milk white steed
She turned her beautiful white horse around.
And they rode faster than the wind
They galloped at incredible speed.
Until they came to a desert wide
They eventually reached a vast and empty desert.
And living land was left behind
They left behind the world of the living.
For forty days and forty nights
They journeyed for an extended period of time.
They rode through red blood to the knee
They rode through blood up to their knees, possibly symbolizing danger or hardship.
And they saw neither sun nor moon
They didn't see any celestial bodies in the sky.
But heard the roaring of the sea
They heard the sound of the ocean, which may symbolize a boundary between worlds.
Don't you see yon bonnie, bonnie road
The lady points out a beautiful road to Thomas.
That lies across the ferny brae?
The road is across the same hilly and grassy landscape they were riding on.
That is the road to fair Elfland
The lady reveals that the road leads to the magical land of the elves.
Where you and I this night must go"
She invites Thomas to join her on a journey to this otherworldly place.
Harp and carp, come along with me
The lady continues to invite Thomas to join her musical journey to Elfland.
Thomas the Rhymer
She addresses him once again as a skilled poet or bard.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Tim Hart, Robert Johnson, Rick Kemp, Peter Knight, Nigel Pegrum, Maddy Prior
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Douglas Buck
THIS is truly my favorite song by this band ............. (King Henry is NOT amused ................ my FIRST song that introduced me to this band.)
So odd to grow old with these guys and watch all the videos from beginning to present ..............
I first heard their music when I was in high school in Rochester, NY courtesy of WCMF - FM Radio...............
In later years I joined the USAF and was stationed in England.
While there, I got to see Jethro Tull, The Albion Band, The Eagles at Wembly and Steeleye Span with Gay Woods as the main female singer................
BEING A ROCK AND ROLLER ........... I knew I liked Steeleye....... but over time I had forgotten why.
That night with Gay Woods singing ...... I remembered WHY. ( It was Maddie's voice that got me there in the first place).
That night they sang Thomas The Rhymer ...... in the first few notes I REMEMBERED what I had forgot.
Thanks guys for making my musical life RICHER.
Wolff Bachner
Thomas the Rhymer
True Thomas sat on Huntley bank
And he beheld a lady gay
A lady that was brisk and bold
Come riding o'er the ferny brae
Her skirt was of the grass green silk,
Her mantle of the velvet fine
At every lock of her horse's mane
Hung fifty silver bells and nine
True Thomas, he pulled off his cap
And bowed him low down to his knee
'All hail, thou mighty Queen of Heaven
Your like on earth I ne'er did see.'
'No, no Thomas she said
That name does not belong to me
I am the queen of fair Elfland
And I have come to visit thee.'
'You must go with me Thomas she said,
True Thomas you must go with me
And must serve me seven years
Through well or woe, as chance may be.'
Hark and carp, come along with me,
Thomas the Rhymer
Hark and carp, come along with me,
Thomas the Rhymer
Hark and carp, come along with me,
Thomas the Rhymer
Hark and carp, come along with me,
Thomas the Rhymer
She turned about her milk white steed
And took Thomas up behind
And aye whenever her bridle rang
Her steed flew swifter than the wind
For forty days and forty nights
They rode through red blood to the knee
And they saw neither sun nor moon
But heard the roaring of the sea
And they rode on and further on
Further and swifter than the wind
Until they came to a desert wide
And living land was left behind
'Don't you see yon narrow, narrow road
So thick beset with thorns and briars?
That is the road to righteousness
Though after it but few enquire.'
'Don't you see yon broad, broad road
That lies across the lily leaven?
That is the road to wickedness
Though some call it the road to heaven.'
'Don't you see yon bonnie, bonnie road
That lies across the ferny brae?
That is the road to fair Elfland
Where you and I this night must go.'
Hark and carp, come along with me,
Thomas the Rhymer
Hark and carp, come along with me,
Thomas the Rhymer
Hark and carp, come along with me,
Thomas the Rhymer
Hark and carp, come along with me,
Thomas the Rhymer
Michele Gagnon
I love how Maddy's voice has gotten richer over the years.
Louise Ed
❤❤❤❤❤
Phil Sooty
Don't know how she kept her voice so pure for all these years!
Godfrey Berry
Amazing, but that's Maddie - gift from God.
Keith Meloy
Peter Knight's vocal performance is magnificent. Sweet and gentle and a perfect counterpoint to Maddy Prior. The quality of musicianship is phenomenal. A masterclass.
Ian Andrew-Patrick
Spent the summer of 1981 on the road with these guys (support act) and had an absolute ball. Great people, great music -and a great era. Never forget.
Debbie Simmons
What a joy that must've been!
El Presidente
This band is awesome and Maddie's voice has stood the test of time where so many have not.
Roger Jenkins
What a joy it is to watch and hear a master at work - so in command of her material and of her audience. When she throws her head back and lets rip with Thomas the RHYmer it's just goosebumps
Luzifer Lindemann von Stromberg
agreed.............I feel the same :)