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.
When I Was On Horseback
Steeleye Span Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I was on horseback, wasn't I gay ?
Wasn't I pretty when I entered Cork City
And met with my downfall on the fourteenth of May ?
Six jolly soldiers to carry my coffin
Six jolly soldiers to march by my side
It's six jolly soldiers take a bunch of red roses
Beat the drum slowly and play the pipes only
Play up the dead march as we go along
And bring me to Tipperary and lay me down easy
I am a young soldier that never done wrong.
When I was on horseback, wasn't I pretty ?
When I was on horseback, wasn't I gay ?
Wasn't I pretty when I entered Cork City
And met with my downfall on the fourteenth of May ?
The Steeleye Span's song, "When I Was On Horseback" is a traditional Irish folk song that tells the story of a young soldier who meets with an unfortunate end. The lyrics speak to the soldier's past, boasting of his beauty and demeanor when he was on horseback - a time when he was in his prime. The listener gets a sense of nostalgia and longing as the soldier reflects on his life before his downfall.
The main theme of the song is the inevitability of change, particularly in the context of loss and death. The soldier's life has taken a dramatic turn, from a position of power and beauty on horseback, to his eventual demise in Cork City, Ireland. Through the lyrics, the listener can feel the weight of sorrow on the soldier's shoulders and the inevitability of his fate as he reflects on his life.
The use of repetition in the line "When I was on horseback, wasn't I pretty? When I was on horseback, wasn't I gay?" emphasizes the soldier's longing for his past and also highlights the fleeting nature of beauty and youth. The mention of six jolly soldiers carrying his coffin and taking a bunch of red roses to smell as they go along adds a sense of melancholy to the song, as the listener is reminded of the soldier's untimely death.
Overall, "When I Was On Horseback" is a poignant song about the inevitability of change and loss, and the importance of cherishing life's moments of beauty and joy.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was on horseback, wasn't I pretty ?
During the time I was riding a horse, wasn't I very attractive?
When I was on horseback, wasn't I gay ?
During the time I was riding a horse, wasn't I very joyful?
Wasn't I pretty when I entered Cork City
Weren't people admiring how good I looked when I arrived in Cork City?
And met with my downfall on the fourteenth of May ?
But then I was caught up in some unfortunate event on 14th of May.
Six jolly soldiers to carry my coffin
Six cheerful soldiers will lift my casket.
Six jolly soldiers to march by my side
Six happy soldiers will walk with my casket.
It's six jolly soldiers take a bunch of red roses
These six happy soldiers will take a bouquet of red roses.
Then for to smell them as we go along.
And as we keep moving, they will stop to sniff the beautiful fragrance.
Beat the drum slowly and play the pipes only
Play the drum slowly and solely play the pipes.
Play up the dead march as we go along
Play the funeral march loudly while we proceed.
And bring me to Tipperary and lay me down easy
Take me to Tipperary and gently lay me down to rest.
I am a young soldier that never done wrong.
I am a young soldier who never committed any mistake/wrongdoing.
Contributed by Amelia C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@TerryHart-bt3ue
Has moved me beyond words for 53 years…….
@leebryant9269
Like others, this song has always had an effect on me, to the extent that, whenever possible, on 14th May, I have to play the song - usually several times over. I can't give a reason why it has this effect - it just does! I'm on my fourth play through already this morning. LeeB009.
@stevenhowells4928
god, i love this song...
@LittleMissCurious94
This song has the most amazing effect on me. If ever I am angry or upset I listen to this, and I almost instantly calm right down. That's powerful.
@diabolicalartificer
My birthday, so has a particular resonance. Maddy and the lads at their best.
@seanbryan4833
I discovered Steeleye Span back in the 70s when I was in my early twenties. I had this album and others, and listened to them a lot. Then I sort of moved on and forgot about them for decades. Recently my son, now in his early 20s, discovered them on his own and started playing them, reminding me of how much I like them
@Pooknottin
Often brings a tear to my eye.
@talonsoftheraven6693
im from Tipperary the place they mention in this song! i feel every bit of this song as if it were my funeral song! Beautiful beyond belief! Steele Eye Span are legends!
@cassiebloemendaal3040
Talons of the Raven Hurray for Tipperary; LOL!
@philipferguson8570
They mention Cork City, but I didn't hear them mention Tipperary in this song.