It may have been written by a man, ibu in content can be applied to either sex
It is most certainly not MacColl's greatest song, nowhere near it - it lay virtually dormant in Peggy's repertoire until the Pop industry got hold of it - though many pseudo-folkies recorded it (often without bothering to seek permission).
MacColl never sang or recorded it because he said it was a song he made to express his feelings for Peggy (over the phone, as the legend has it)
Peggy told be that she never expected any of their songs to make money, but if any did, she thought it might be 'Dirty Old Town
Mnay thanks to both Peter and Vic for putting up the reviews - hadn't seen either of them
I haven't read either of the books yet - Pat has read Peggy's own, which she enjoyed, and is now half-way though Freedman's, which she said is better
Still struggling my way through Roud's depressing tome
Jim Carroll