Who Told the Butcher
Steeleye Span at their best, It is genius to write a song about fly fishing, pure talent

Who Told the Butcher
Steeleye Span Lyrics


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Oh, who told the Butcher
All about the Grey Goose?
Oh, it could have been the Poacher
Nobody knows

Or it could have been the Royal Coachman
Or Connemara Black
Just listen well to what the ladies say
And bring old Brownie back

And who told the Butcher
About the Lady Of The Lake?
It could have been the Queen Of The Water
Nobody knows

Or it could have been old Soldier Palmer
Or Teal and Black
Just listen well to what the ladies say
And bring old Brownie back

Come on, tie the damsels two to the droppers
And tie old Kate McClaren to the point
There's none so wise to the rise of the river
The Butcher's out there tonight

Come on, tie the damsels two to the droppers
And tie old Kate McClaren to the point
There's none so wise to the rise of the river
The Butcher's out there tonight
You know the Butcher's out there tonight

Oh, and who told the Butcher
All about the Grenadier?
It could have been the Teal and Green
Nobody knows

Or it could have been old Wickham's Fancy
Or Humpy Black
Just listen well to what the ladies say
And bring old Brownie back

Come on, tie the damsels two to the droppers
And tie old Kate McClaren to the point
There's none so wise to the rise of the river
The Butcher's out there tonight

Come on, tie the damsels two to the droppers
And tie old Kate McClaren to the point
There's none so wise to the rise of the river
The Butcher's out there tonight





The Butcher's out there tonight
The Butcher's out there tonight

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of “Who Told the Butcher” by Steeleye Span address an elusive figure known only as “the Butcher” who seems to know everything about the characters and objects mentioned in the song. The first two stanzas begin with the repeated question, “Who told the Butcher all about the Grey Goose?,” to which a variety of characters are suggested as possible sources of information. Similarly, the third stanza asks who told the Butcher about the Grenadier, and once again offers several possibilities without ever arriving at a definitive answer.


The final two stanzas offer instructions for the listener to “tie the damsels two to the droppers” and “tie old Kate McClaren to the point.” These phrases likely refer to fishing techniques, suggesting that the song may have originally been a folk tune about angling before being adapted by Steeleye Span. The reference to “the Butcher” and the mysterious origins of his knowledge, however, lend the song an eerie, almost mystical quality.


One possible interpretation is that “the Butcher” represents some kind of supernatural or mythological figure, with his encyclopedic knowledge of the natural world hinting at a connection to the land or the spirits that inhabit it. Another interpretation is that the song is simply a playful nod to the tradition of fly fishing and the colorful names given to different types of flies and lures.


Overall, “Who Told the Butcher” is a tantalizingly enigmatic song that invites multiple interpretations and leaves much to the listener’s imagination.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh, who told the Butcher
Who revealed the secret to the Butcher?


All about the Grey Goose?
About the whereabouts of the Grey Goose?


Oh, it could have been the Poacher
Perhaps it was the Poacher?


Nobody knows
No one is certain who told him


Or it could have been the Royal Coachman
It might have been the Royal Coachman?


Or Connemara Black
Or maybe Connemara Black?


Just listen well to what the ladies say
Pay attention to the gossip from the women


And bring old Brownie back
And retrieve Brownie, who might help find the answer


And who told the Butcher
Who else did the Butcher hear from?


About the Lady Of The Lake?
About the mysterious Lady of the Lake?


It could have been the Queen Of The Water
It is possible it was the Queen Of The Water?


Nobody knows
Nobody can be sure


Or it could have been old Soldier Palmer
Maybe it was old Soldier Palmer?


Or Teal and Black
Or even Teal and Black?


Come on, tie the damsels two to the droppers
Get ready, tie two damsels to the droppers


And tie old Kate McClaren to the point
And attach old Kate McClaren to the point


There's none so wise to the rise of the river
Only one who knows how the river rises


The Butcher's out there tonight
The Butcher is out and about tonight


Oh, and who told the Butcher
Again, who told the Butcher?


All about the Grenadier?
All about the Grenadier's location or situation?


It could have been the Teal and Green
Maybe it was the Teal and Green?


Or it could have been old Wickham's Fancy
Or perhaps it was old Wickham's Fancy?


Or Humpy Black
Or even Humpy Black?


The Butcher's out there tonight
The Butcher is still out on the prowl


The Butcher's out there tonight
The Butcher has not been caught yet




Contributed by Lucas J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Ben - Moderator


on Bonny Moorhen

Hi Stuart, We have corrected the description above.

Stuart Tartan


on Bonny Moorhen

The song Bonny Moorhen by Steeleye Span is a traditional Scottish ballad that tells the story of a bird, the Bonny Moorhen, and its journey through the glen and over the sea. The narrator of the song expresses affection and admiration for the bird and asks others to toast its health when they are out drinking. The Bonny Moorhen is described as having a rainbow of feathers, including blue, which is unusual for a bird, and invites it to come to the narrator. However, in the second verse, the song takes a darker turn as the narrator reveals that the bird has gone over the sea and will not return until the summer. But when it does return, only certain people will know, suggesting that not everyone will be happy about the Bonny Moorhen's return. The third verse introduces a new element to the story, two men named Ronald and Donald who are out on the fen, presumably trying to hunt or harm the bird. The narrator calls for the Bonny Moorhen to come to them for safety. Overall, the song is a mix of admiration for the beauty of nature and a warning about the dangers that can lurk in it. The Bonny Moorhen represents something pure and innocent, but there are those who would try to harm it, and the song is a call to protect it.

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.

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