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.
You
Steeleye Span Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Something old was born anew
In spite of all the good things
Your good God has made
Everything I touch turns into you
Everything I touch turns into you
Ever since my eyes perceived your face
Anything to save my fall from grace
Now everything I see turns into you
Everything I see turns into you
And ever since my ears received your cold clear voice
Singing silver lines so soft and true
My destiny was written, I had no choice
Now everything I hear turns into you
Everything I hear turns into you
Each snowflake that falls
Achieve your subtle form
The howling wind calls
Your name in the storm
The frost in the ground
That turns into dew
Each sight and each sound
Turns into you
A statue of your likeness
Float through my dream
Carved in ice and glacial blue
You're in my heart forever
Or so it seems
Now everything I dream turns into you
Everything I touch turns into you
Everything I am turns into you
The song "You" by Steeleye Span speaks of a deep love that has taken over everything. The singer seems to be fully consumed by this love, to the point where everything they see, touch, hear, and dream of is transformed into the image of the person they love. The opening lines mention dancing in a dark parade, which suggests that this love is perhaps unconventional or misunderstood by others. However, despite any obstacles that might be in the way, the singer has been completely transformed by their love for this person.
The next few verses delve into the sensory experiences that the singer has had in relation to this person. They describe perceiving the person's face and hearing their voice, and how these experiences have effectively taken over their senses. The metaphor of snowflakes and the wind calling out the person's name further emphasizes how thoroughly they've been consumed by this love.
Finally, the singer touches on the idea of permanence - the person has become such a core part of their being that everything they do or are is transformed by their presence. The closing line of the song is a simple but powerful repetition of the idea that "everything I am turns into you."
Overall, "You" is a poetic and emotive exploration of a deeply felt love that has completely overtaken one's world.
Line by Line Meaning
Ever since we danced in the dark parade
From the time we danced together in the shadows
Something old was born anew
Something new was born from something old
In spite of all the good things
Despite all the great things
Your good God has made
Your divine creator has made
Everything I touch turns into you
Everything I come into contact with transforms into thoughts of you
Everything I see turns into you
Everything I see reminds me of you
My destiny was written, I had no choice
Fate predetermined my path
Now everything I hear turns into you
Everything I hear brings thoughts of you
Each snowflake that falls
Every individual snowflake
Achieve your subtle form
Takes on your subtle image
The howling wind calls
The wind's howl echoes your name
Your name in the storm
Your name is called forth by the storm
The frost in the ground
The frost that covers the ground
That turns into dew
Transforms into droplets of dew
Each sight and each sound
Every visual and audible sensation
Turns into you
Reminds me of you
A statue of your likeness
A sculpture resembling you
Float through my dream
Drifts through my subconscious
Carved in ice and glacial blue
Fashioned from ice and blue tones
You're in my heart forever
You will always reside in my heart
Or so it seems
At least that's how it feels
Now everything I dream turns into you
Even my dreams revolve around thoughts of you
Everything I touch turns into you
Everything I touch reminds me of you
Everything I am turns into you
Every aspect of my being is consumed by thoughts of you
Contributed by Gavin W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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.