Gurney: It certainly isn't only the Irish who sing "From Clare to here". But of course, with a name like McTell, he'd have to be Celtic in origin, wouldn't he?

Or "Fields of Athenry", more sadly. You might be right about "40 shades of green", however.

It is interesting to know something about a song's origins: where it came from (if known) and where it passed through en-route to here and now. It doesn't work for all songs, of course, but I don't think it helps to deny the national or local origins where it does have relevance.

My daughter sings "Union Miner" in Durham, where it is a popular song despite the words referring to working practice in American mines not British pits. The principles were common enough, but the details varied. If the origins were forgotten it could mislead future generations.