"whereas writing a song from the point of view of a Yarmouth fisherman is not"
Shoals of Herring was based, as many of them were, on actuality recorded directly from Sam Larner, Ronnie Balls, et al - he uses much of Sam's actual wording in the song directly from the actuality recordings.
Likewise Freeborn Man and the Travellers songs
Shellback was based on interviews they did with Ben Bright, the sea terminology was Bright's.
Tenant Farmer came from interviews with Border farmers on the subject that the song dealt with.
I doubt if the same can be said of the Vietnamese song.
All of MacColl's Vietnam songs came from the point of view of the sympathetic observer (from afar) - none, to me recollection, were written from the 'first person' position - I don't believe there were even first-hand accounts of the Vietnam to draw from to make songs.
"But to me it seems quaint to look back on a time when a single pedagogue could hold a group of acolytes in such thrall"
Is it that old fashioned?
I still get buzz from listening to actors discussing their roles - I'm totally hooked on the Sky Arts' Shakespeare programmes and Al Pacino's 'Looking for Richard' made a major contribution to my understanding of Richard III.
I never looked on MacColl as a pedagogue (schoolteacher) but as an extremely articulate artist who had thought a great deal about his art - for me, that will never be out-of-date.
Jim Carroll