Each of us may have an opinion regarding "the greatest song he ever wrote". There are so many great songs that I could never choose a favourite, let alone a "greatest".
One thing that I would like to add however is that unlike many professional songwriters who knock out a song in order to fill up an album or pay next months rent,MacColl,s songs all had real subject matter and meaning. Whether it be protest about rights of way or musings about his father, all were put together in a masterly fashion with a great command of poetic language and melody.
I thought that the comment made earlier by Jim Carroll was very significant when he stated that MacColl would spend days humming or whistling a melody until he had it to his satisfaction.
This I think demonstrates the strength of his creative urge and the self discipline to drive it to completion
Eric Armstrong