On Xmas Day 2016 Ian Davison died. One of Scotland's most prolific and able songmakers in traditional style, Ian was captured for the Scottish Folk Revival by a 1957 lecture given in Partick Burgh Halls by Norman Buchan. Throughout the Revival he has been a well-respected, clever and melodic songwriter, a performer earlier with his own Folk Group and latterly solo, and a developer of the songmaking skills of others. He wrote and recorded on his own label several CDs of his political, comic, historical, love and other songs, including 'Mandela Danced in the Square', 'Going Home To Glasgow', 'The Muttonheid Wearies', 'We Only Have To Try', 'Wrap Me In Yer Airms'.
A few years ago Glasgow's Star Club devoted a tribute evening to his conferes singing his songs to him. Ian taught English in Glasgow schools and wrote shoals of fine songs, a tremendous friend and compatriot to have, cheerful and purposeful, dedicated and tireless. When he was Secretary of Scottish CND in the 1980s we met up again, and co-founded the SCND Buskers, racing to see who could first utilise which Scots traditional tunes for disposable protest songs for marches. More recently he performed as a duo with Carissa Bovill. My heart goes out to Karine and Liz.
Ian wrote about John MacLean, various fine lyrics about Middle east conflicts, support for 'Mordecai Venunu in the jail of Ashkenon', and many songs celebrating the language and life of Glasgow. One of Ian's titles that tells us who he was is 'There's Room For Us All In The Dance'.
Ewan McVicar