Steeleye Span - The King

[FLORABUNDA42]

There was an English Tradtion called 'Hunting the Wren' aka The King - on St Stephens Day [Dec 26th] . The dead wren was fabulously decorated with ribbons & greenery and put on a pole - often in a 'cage' of greenery. This was taken house to house by the 'Wren Boys' and people would give money - or tokens. A feather from the wren was considered effective against shipwreck. As people came to the door, they would ask 'Please to See the King'. Fabulous singing: older times & older gods in Albion!

[InParticularNobody]

@FLORABUNDA42 it was a less enlightened era in terms of human-wren relations though...

[tenkirulez]

This isn't religious is it?

[thewhisperingeagle]

@tenkirulez This song is about the Epiphany.

[ebailey140]

@tenkirulez Sort of, since it's about Ireland's Wren Day traditions, which are on the Second Day of Christmas, the Feast of Stephen. While the wren traditions aren't really religious in nature, they're rooted in the legend of a wren betraying St. Stephen.

[Bruno47602]

Fantastic!!!

[minwav]

One of the blokes from the American band, Counting Crows - their old bass player - did a version of this on his solo record, "The Goddess Within".

[atfatw]

make that old fossil maddy pryor retire she is no good anymore put her out to pasture

[latenightpilgrim]

@atfatw oh come on please!

[gaspode18]

@atfatw Fuck off and die fatboy.

[atfatw]

@gaspcommode18 haha very clever and from an imbecile! you represent england at its finest!

[LordBifford]

Are there any other versions of this song?

[Pangael]

The wren, the wren

Is King of the Birds,

Saint Stephen's Day,

He's caught in the furze.

Although he is little,

his family is great,

We pray you good people

To give us a treat! - James Frazier - The Golden Bough

This song speaks to something ancient and holy. I always include it on my Christmas CD. Perhaps because it is pre-Christian.

We pray you good people to

[lillith886]

'the golden bough' is one of the most fascinating books i've ever read. if you are interested robert graves book 'the white goddess' looks very deeply into pre christian 'folk history' and is well worth looking at. :-))

[Pangael]

I read The White Goddess many years ago - before I read Frazier, in fact and which led me to read Frazier.

You might want to try Joseph Campbell's The Masks of God, if you haven't already. Esp, the volume on Primitive Mythology.

[lillith886]

that's so funny!! i went the other way!! ie. the golden bough led me to the white goddess!! i'll give joseph campbell a go. i'm between books at the moment! really love merlin stone's work and the civilization of the goddess by marija gimbutas. now that's one to get your teeth into!! :-))

[tippngthevelvet]

Thank you Pangael, I did enjoy reading that

especially at this time with 'Christmas cheer' all around me.

[Noiseresearch]

I love this track, it always makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up ... !! Such wonderful harmony

[atfatw]

wow, look at maddy's face how homely what do you call a pretty girl in england?- a tourist

[dbadagna]

We have travelled many miles Over hedges and stiles In search of our king Unto you we bring We have powder and shot To conquer the lot We have cannon and ball To conquer them all Old Christmas is past Twelve tide is the last And we bid you adieu Great joy to the new

[dbadagna]

Joy, health, love and peace

Be all here in this place

By your leave we will sing

Concerning our king

Our king is well dressed

In the silks of the best

In ribbons so rare

No king can compare

[vtrdgs]

@dbadagna parabens por ter colocado essa que é realmente uma obra de arte da musica folk da inglaterra.

[coramunroe]

Thank you so much for posting. I grew up with my parents singing this together, so it is very much appreciated to hear it again.