please to see the king

Please To See The King is the second album by Steeleye Span, released in 1971. A major personnel change following their previous effort, Hark! The Village Wait, brought about a substantial change in their overall sound, including a lack of drums and the replacement of one female vocalist with a male vocalist. The band even reprised a song from their debut, “The Blacksmith”, with a strikingly different arrangement making extensive use of syncopation.

The title of the album is derived from the “Cutty Wren” ceremony. A wren in a cage is paraded as if it were a king. This rite was carried out on December 26, Saint Stephen’s Day, and is connected to early Christmas celebrations. The song “The King”, appearing on the album, addresses this, and is often performed as a Christmas carol. Steeleye returned to this subject on Live at Last with “Hunting the Wren” and on Time with the song “The Cutty Wren”. The custom of Wrenboys is mostly associated with Ireland, but it has been recently revived in England.

Track Listing:

• The Blacksmith
• Cold, Haily, Windy Night
• Jigs: Bryan O'Lynn / The Hag With The Money
• Prince Charlie Stuart
• Boys Of Bedlam
• False Knight On The Road
• The Lark In The Morning
• Female Drummer
• The King
• Lovely On The Water