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Music that makes me…feel like I’m in Olde England
I’ve been an Anglophile for decades and went to Britain with my first husband in 1984. And since the 1970s, I’ve been very fond of Steeleye Span, a rock group that draws most of their material from Medieval and Renaissance English folk songs. In those times, the subjects of folk songs tended to be elves, fairies, poachers, farmers, kings, sailors, and sex. Yes, human nature doesn’t change much down the centuries. The personnel of Steeleye Span has changed many times over the years, but mostly their lead singer, Maddy Prior has been the focus. Herewith, a sampling of Steeleye Span.
Long Lankin is a medieval tale of the grisly murder of a lady and her infant by a disgruntled mason, or maybe just a “boogeyman” who roams the moors.
Spotted Cow is pretty self-explanatory.
Royal Forester is about a strong woman, and how she gets her way in the end.
Hard Times of Old England describes just that.
King Henry has quite an ordeal but finds gold at the end.
Finally, I think this is a wonderful variation of The Holly and The Ivy.
I saw this poster in 1991 when I was in Cambridge for a three-week summer course. Too bad I had already returned home and couldn’t get tickets.
Any post mentioning Steeleye Span gets a like!
I’ve always liked Fairport Convention.
Ditto!
Keep an eye out for my next post on the 22nd.
Contrast and compare:
My personal favorite Fairport Convention: Tam Lin
First Cat Stevens, then Steeleye Span, then onto Fairport Convention. We are all dinosaurs. Except Bereket.
I had a pet dinosaur when I was a wee lad. I named him Billy.
I got a styrofoam Tyrannosaurus skeleton (some assembly required) one Christmas. I named him Bones.
I like watching videos of the Proms.
My vote for The most epic old English folk song of all time:
Morning Rushbabe,
This is a bit of a stretch, but like Flanders and Swann, it could only come from England, Ian Wallace, ah he’s a good lad.
Rather a bit lower the the Proms, sorry @percival
“Down Below” was written by Sydney Carter. He only died fourteen years ago, but his writing does seem much older:
And another:
And his most famous:
Another contemporary songwriter who writes as if he were doing it a few centuries back is Archie Fisher:
Of course, he’s in Scotland, not England, but close enough.
Morning Arahant,
This is for you:
On the show “My Music”, this was the most requested song for Ian Wallace. I could not find a version by him, but the above version has merits of its own.
Either I or the singer needs a couple more drinks.
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I first heard Steeleye Span when I was at a party at 16. I went out to get “Below the Salt” the very next day. What a great group! This was the beginning of a long-term obsession, as it has been with many American fans.
Morning Rushbabe,
Today’s “Song of the Week” from Mark Steyn is about Vera Lynn:
https://www.steynonline.com/10395/well-meet-again-therell-always-be-an-england
included is “There will always be an England”;
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bX7bdDXGqqA,
and:
Mark’s column wonders if there will always be an England. I have similar wonders.
This post makes me wish that I could visit my local Ren Faire, get a scotch egg and a beer, and enjoy the music.
On iTunes I bought A Parcel of Steeleye Span, which is a compilation of most of their early work. Definitely worth the price.
Cross Sydney Carter with the Steeleye gang and you get this:
This cut is just exquisite:
A very interesting documentary focusing on ELiza Carthy, daughter of English folk greats Norma Waterson and Martin Carthy.
Well worth the 45 minutes if you’re into this genre.
My favorite Pentangle song: