Is Men of Harlech the same as Battle of Harlech/Harlaw? That's a beautiful, sad song - but can anyone do it better than Jeannie Robertson?

Of the others on bert's list, I'm familiar with all but one. I'd have to agree with Willie-O, that we tend to disdain the songs we heard in elementary school - particularly after we realized how they've been cleaned up! :-) I agree on Old Smokey - hated it on purpose for a number of years, just because to me it was a kids' song, then realized that, done at the proper slowness, and with the right inflection of regret, it could be quite lovely (as long as you're not dealing with an audience of kids - who will invariably start laughing because of On Top of Spaghetti). I think something of the same happened with standards like Barbara Allen - done so much everyone was tired of them for awhile.

I agree it would be nice to hear Copper Kettle more frequently (also lovely, done slowly, as long as it's not turned into a CW tune).

I didn't know that Hard is the Fortune & Wagoner's lad were two different songs - can't recall ever hearing them done separately.

There are so many great songs I'd love to hear more - Braes of Balquidder, Young Donald, Worker's Song, In the Pines - one could go on & on. There are a lot of singers out there looking for something *different* to set themselves apart - I'm surprised we don't hear more variety.

Hey, all you Welshmen - do they really sing the saucepan song at matches? :-)