Hi, Jim -- spent a good time going through the Travellers' Songs book looking at all the other songs (because I'm still not convinced by the link to The Tattie Lifting) and I was sure that the melodic clue would be in the phrase "a tenant farmer" of MacColl's song.

Didn't find a conclusive link, but I'm intending to do a real exploration of the tune Nicky Tams, which seems promising.

And if it's all a waste of time, should make us all the more appreciative of Ewan's facility with the marriage of text and melody!

(And I know the thread is originally about Lloyd's contribution in potentially supplying the melody for Sweet Thames -- but the thrill of recognising a possible link between text and melody has overwhelmed me…)