Saturday 14 September 2024

Steeleye Span's greatest version of Thomas the Rhymer


The view up the Eildon Hills from near where Thomas probably met the Queen of Elfland


Steeleye Span's first and best 6:44 minute version of their interpretation of my favourite Border Ballad.

It comes from what is probably my favourite album of theirs - Now We Are Six from 1974 - favourite, not because of its being consistently good, but because of its unmatched ability - in several places - to capture a quality of uncanny and deeply-appealing magic that I seek from the very best of folk music.  

In Thomas the Rhymer, the rock section is balanced by a superb, quiet, close-miked section with acoustic guitar and flute and violin obliggato - repeated with quietly pulsing electric guitar and bass. 

This richly rewards intensive listening on stereo headphones - notable the section on the choice of three road (to Heaven, Hell, or Elfland). As a kid we didn't have headphones, so my friend Gareth and I would take turns to lie on the floor, with head sandwiched between the stereo speakers...  

Epic electric folk at its supreme best...

***


True Thomas sat on Huntly bank 
And he beheld a lady gay 
A lady that was brisk and bold 
Come riding o’er the ferny brae 

Her skirt was of the grass green silk, 
Her mantle of the velvet fine 
At every lock of her horse’s mane 
Hung fifty silver bells and nine 

True Thomas, he pulled off his cap 
And bowed him low down to his knee 
“All hail, thou mighty Queen of Heaven 
Your like on earth I ne’er did see.” 

(Transition to quiet section)

“No, no, Thomas,” she said, 
“That name does not belong to me 
I am the queen of fair Elfland 
And I have come to visit thee.” 

“You must go with me, Thomas,” she said, 
“True Thomas, you must go with me 
And must serve me seven years 
Through well or woe, as chance may be.” 

Chorus X 4: (Again rock style)

Hark and carp, 
come along with me, 
Thomas the Rhymer 

She turned about her milk white steed 
And took Thomas up behind 
And aye whenever her bridle rang 
Her steed flew swifter than the wind 

For forty days and forty nights 
They rode through red blood to the knee 
And they saw neither sun nor moon 
But heard the roaring of the sea 

And they rode on and further on 
Further and swifter than the wind 
Until they came to a desert wide 
And living land was left behind 

(Quiet section again - muted electric guitar and bass - the best bit of all!)

“Don’t you see yon narrow, narrow road 
So thick beset with thorns and briars? 
That is the road to righteousness 
Though after it but few enquire.” 
 
“Don’t you see yon broad, broad road
That lies across the lily leaven? 
That is the road to wickedness 
Though some call it the road to heaven.” 
 
“Don’t you see yon bonny, bonny road 
That lies across the ferny brae? 
That is the road to fair Elfland 
Where you and I this night must go.”

Chorus (repeat to fade): 
Hark and carp, 
come along with me, 
Thomas the Rhymer