This is among the the most moving songs I've ever heard, and most every time I hear it my eyes just leak spontaneously, can't help it. But if music doesn't move me why bother to partake at all?.......
I've loved Steeleye Span for years now. First came across them in about '73/4 and saw them live a couple of times. They were always better live than on the albums and had some amazing concerts. The strangest one I saw was at the Hexagon in Reading in about '88. I think the audience were either dead or doped! Maddie called for everyone to dance in the aisles and my wife and I were up in a flash. Almost immediately, there were calls from all around for us to sit down and stop spoiling the show. Encouraged by Maddie, we kept going - until the manager came down and told us if we didn't stop we would be thrown out!
Peter is a sound bloke, i love this song. his dad Frank was the most down to earth person i have had the pleasure to meet, Peter, im glad i met you in Hastings. keep up the great music
Heard you guys 2 evenings ago in Tunbridge Wells with this lovely song which I have liked for a long time. Imagine my surprise when Peter said it was about a boat of his called after a TV presenter who happens to have the same names as me!!! I love all this gentle music you used to do like Lark in the morning.Jenny B
This song has always disturbed me and I've just figured out why. The captain panicked. Unless a ship is actually going beneath the surface, it's safer to stay on the ship than go into the sea, especially during a storm. Even wearing an exposure suit, hypothermia will kill you if you're in the water. Plus there's the risk of drowning. Panic kills more people in an emergency situation than anything else. The captain sent the crew overboard, effectively killing them.
The ship goes down, but the narrarator, the only one left on the ship except maybe the captain, says the captain lied when he said no one could save her. It sounds like the ship could have been saved if the crew hadn't abandoned it. Maybe I'm over analyzing a song not meant for that, the idea that they could save their lives by swimming is already totally fanciful.
Michael, I love this song, but ever since I've read your comment I've been puzzling it over, too. They would have taken a boat--Lieutenant Bligh from the Bounty steered his loyal crew to land---47 days, and the survivors of the Essex were in the ocean 90 days (thank you Wikipedia). So the words ought to be "Row for your lives", eh, matey? Mirenne
Mirenne, more boats sunk over the centuries and more lives lost at sea than you can ever imagine. Please don't try to pretend they didn't. And correct me if I misread Wiki but it says Bligh was Commander Lieutenant at the time of the Bounty? I only checked as I thought Fletcher was acting Lieutenant and thought Bligh was higher ranked.
This makes me think of the co-pilot of the German plane who had been "successfully" treated for "a depressive disorder" before freezing at the controls and ignoring the pilot pounding on the door. Hitler went after the insane first, so, in their arrogance, the Germans refuse to understand that some mental illnesses are treatable, but not curable. I think his depression returned and, unable to relax, the co-pilot sent the plane down, crashing it. Major depression needs lifelong care, not 18 months' treatment. RIP
It doesn't work for those descendants of the drowned either; they may depressed too. Doesn't stop the song appealing to folk and making then HAPPY though.
The captain doesn't tell the crew to go into lifeboats but "swim for your lives." Unless land was very near, their lives would be short. Considering the narrator calls for other crew members and gets no answer, they're either out of earshot or, IMO, dead. "The captain lied when the captain cried, 'There's none of us here can save her'."
True re 'the manacles, true re St Keverne's graveyard. This is but a song and NO ONE will be singing it on a sinking ship unless pissed and doomed to drown any way!
I think I prefer the version on Sails of Silver, which makes more use of Maddy's voice and contains the intense and haunting bell-like "One by one" ("He wondered if his shipmates / Were ready just to pray and give in / So he called their names out one by one / But there was no-one else around but him"). Ken Nicol's guitar solo on this version doesn't quite gel with the rest of the song. Good, but not *quite* as good as the Sails of Silver version.
Other versions have, "He wondered if his shipmates Were ready just to pray and give in, So he called their names out one by one But there was no one else around but him." Peter Knight wrote it so I guess he can change it if he wants to. In fact, the latest version has the line, "He said "The captain lied when the captain cried, There's none of us here can save her."" What? Some unmentioned revenge? Insurance purposes?
2023 and still such a moving anthem......
I love Speeleye Span and saw them in Sydney long ago - have everything they ever recorded and they were and are the best
Brilliant, one can see why this band has been around for so long..
This is among the the most moving songs I've ever heard, and most every time I hear it my eyes just leak spontaneously, can't help it. But if music doesn't move me why bother to partake at all?.......
I've loved Steeleye Span for years now. First came across them in about '73/4 and saw them live a couple of times. They were always better live than on the albums and had some amazing concerts. The strangest one I saw was at the Hexagon in Reading in about '88. I think the audience were either dead or doped! Maddie called for everyone to dance in the aisles and my wife and I were up in a flash. Almost immediately, there were calls from all around for us to sit down and stop spoiling the show. Encouraged by Maddie, we kept going - until the manager came down and told us if we didn't stop we would be thrown out!
Absolutely LOVE Steeleye Span!!! ....Just ,Fantastic !! xx
This thing just slays me, every time. I never tire of anything they do. Just amazing.
Peter is a sound bloke, i love this song. his dad Frank was the most down to earth person i have had the pleasure to meet, Peter, im glad i met you in Hastings. keep up the great music
This lineup was, in my view, Steeleye at their best.
This is an absolutely unique song. Only Steeleye Span.
Alberto Abajo Flores d
Heard you guys 2 evenings ago in Tunbridge Wells with this lovely song which I have liked for a long time. Imagine my surprise when Peter said it was about a boat of his called after a TV presenter who happens to have the same names as me!!! I love all this gentle music you used to do like Lark in the morning.Jenny B
I hope they play it this autumn on the UK tour. Love the version by The Hollies too.
So touching, lovely.
Back in 2024 for this
great song = love it!
The band, even today, is still fantastic. On the other hand, the Span is not THE Span without Peter Knight's unique voice.
You are so very right! I really wish Maddy would just retire and let the great work they did tell their story.
great....I especially like Ken Nicol's solo.....really adds something that wasn't there before.
Lovely,lovely, so beautiful.
Covered by the Hollies on the "What Goes Around" project but only issued in New Zealand as the B-side of "Stop in the name of love".
That is a hymn.
thanks fan1 I've never seen any of these
Beautiful
To the 8 thumbs down people ........you have no soul.......hope you find it soon
Great! And check out Hollies' version, featuring Allan Clarke on vocals, recorded during the reunion with Graham Nash in 1983.
BEAUTIFUL!!!
This song has always disturbed me and I've just figured out why. The captain panicked. Unless a ship is actually going beneath the surface, it's safer to stay on the ship than go into the sea, especially during a storm. Even wearing an exposure suit, hypothermia will kill you if you're in the water. Plus there's the risk of drowning.
Panic kills more people in an emergency situation than anything else. The captain sent the crew overboard, effectively killing them.
The ship goes down, but the narrarator, the only one left on the ship except maybe the captain, says the captain lied when he said no one could save her. It sounds like the ship could have been saved if the crew hadn't abandoned it. Maybe I'm over analyzing a song not meant for that, the idea that they could save their lives by swimming is already totally fanciful.
I have loved this group since the early '70's. Peter retired years ago. It is time for Maddy to end it.
Peter knight is not retired, he heads gigspanner band.
Hollies with Graham Nash before he went back to the California grass.
Michael, I love this song, but ever since I've read your comment I've been puzzling it over, too. They would have taken a boat--Lieutenant Bligh from the Bounty steered his loyal crew to land---47 days, and the survivors of the Essex were in the ocean 90 days (thank you Wikipedia). So the words ought to be "Row for your lives", eh, matey? Mirenne
Mirenne, more boats sunk over the centuries and more lives lost at sea than you can ever imagine. Please don't try to pretend they didn't. And correct me if I misread Wiki but it says Bligh was Commander Lieutenant at the time of the Bounty? I only checked as I thought Fletcher was acting Lieutenant and thought Bligh was higher ranked.
Oh ja, ja, ganz ganz toll!
beautiful song lovely harmonies particularly by kempy and great solo by Ken i think they really miss Kens assertive playing
is any further tribute needed awesome song
This makes me think of the co-pilot of the German plane who had been "successfully" treated for "a depressive disorder" before freezing at the controls and ignoring the pilot pounding on the door. Hitler went after the insane first, so, in their arrogance, the Germans refuse to understand that some mental illnesses are treatable, but not curable. I think his depression returned and, unable to relax, the co-pilot sent the plane down, crashing it. Major depression needs lifelong care, not 18 months' treatment. RIP
It doesn't work for those descendants of the drowned either; they may depressed too. Doesn't stop the song appealing to folk and making then HAPPY though.
Can someone please tell me what this song is about. Is it about a accident that happened
Sorry Michael. I guess I didn't write that very clearly. I agree with you. What I meant to say is that they "should have gotten" in the lifeboats.
Great
just enjoy..why pick it apart?
I feel like the Irish Descendents took this song and ran with it much better than here
The captain doesn't tell the crew to go into lifeboats but "swim for your lives." Unless land was very near, their lives would be short. Considering the narrator calls for other crew members and gets no answer, they're either out of earshot or, IMO, dead.
"The captain lied when the captain cried, 'There's none of us here can save her'."
True re 'the manacles, true re St Keverne's graveyard. This is but a song and NO ONE will be singing it on a sinking ship unless pissed and doomed to drown any way!
I think I prefer the version on Sails of Silver, which makes more use of Maddy's voice and contains the intense and haunting bell-like "One by one" ("He wondered if his shipmates / Were ready just to pray and give in / So he called their names out one by one / But there was no-one else around but him"). Ken Nicol's guitar solo on this version doesn't quite gel with the rest of the song. Good, but not *quite* as good as the Sails of Silver version.
Tim Hart died, as far as I know Peter is still alive!
:')
"I wondered if my shipmates
Had been lost in the (what?) sea."
Ricky M raging
Thanks.
"golden", because the sun was setting.
I think it's "roaring"; it's clearer on other recordings of LHGD :)
Other versions have, "He wondered if his shipmates
Were ready just to pray and give in,
So he called their names out one by one
But there was no one else around but him."
Peter Knight wrote it so I guess he can change it if he wants to. In fact, the latest version has the line,
"He said "The captain lied when the captain cried,
There's none of us here can save her."" What? Some unmentioned revenge? Insurance purposes?
Magic