Steeleye Span
Lyric guide

Seven Hundred Elves

Read Seven Hundred Elves lyrics by Steeleye Span on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.

Steeleye Span visibility1 visits
person Curated by Ethan Walker LyroVerse team
Reference snapshot

The page facts to cite before the commentary

Use this page for the lyric text, linked artist context, and any LyroVerse editor's note attached to the song. Listener comments remain user-generated and should not be treated as the primary source.

Page type: lyric reference Artist: Steeleye Span Canonical path: /steeleye-span/seven-hundred-elves Related lyric paths: 6
Lyrics

Seven Hundred Elves

The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.

seven hundred elves from out the wood

foul and grim they were.

down to the farmer's house they went

his meat and drink to share.

there was a farmer in the west and there he chose his ground.

he thought to spend the winter there and brought his hawk and hound.

he brought with him both hound and cock alone he begged to stay.

and all the deer that roamed the wood had cause to rue the day.

he felled the oak, he felled the birch, the beech nor poplar spared.

and much was grieved the sullen elves at what the stranger dared.

he hewed him baulks and he hewed him beams with eager toil and haste.

then up and spake the woodland elves: "who's come our wood to waste?"

seven hundred elves from out the wood

foul and grim they were.

down to the farmer's house they went

his meat and drink to share.

up and spake the biggest elf and grimly rolled his eyes:

"we'll march upon the farmer's house and hold on him assize.

he's knocking down both wood and bower, he shows us great disdain.

we'll make him rue the day he was born and taste of shame and pain."

seven hundred elves from out the wood

foul and grim they were.

down to the farmer's house they went

his meat and drink to share.

all the elves from out the wood began to dance and spring.

and marched towards the farmer's house their lengthy tails to swing.

the farmer from his window looked and quickly crossed his breast.

"oh woe is me," the farmer cried, "the elves will be my guests."

in every nook he made a cross and all about the room.

and off flew many a frightened elf back to his forest gloom.

some flew to the east, some flew to the west, some flew to the north away.

and some flew down the deep ravine and there forever stay.

seven hundred elves from out the wood

foul and grim they were.

down to the farmer's house they went

his meat and drink to share.

Quick answers

What this page can answer fast

Who performs "Seven Hundred Elves"?

Steeleye Span performs "Seven Hundred Elves", and this lyric page sits inside the Steeleye Span catalog on LyroVerse.

Are there related songs to explore after "Seven Hundred Elves"?

Yes. The related section below points to A Calling-On Song and A Parcel of Rogues in a Nation with a short reason for opening each page next.

Where can I find more songs by Steeleye Span?

Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Steeleye Span's lyric pages.

Song Room

Interpretations, questions, and corrections for this song

Interpretations, questions, memories, and correction notes live together here. The room stays noindex while the best insights are reviewed.

Open Song Room
0 followers Selected insights only surface after moderation
Listener comments

What people are saying

0 comments
Add a short interpretation or memory

A strong comment here is specific: the phrase you keep hearing, the mood you come back for, or the reason this song stays in rotation.

Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.

No listener comments on Seven Hundred Elves yet.