There was no suggestion that all the songs in the Travelling People or any of the Radio Ballads were traditional, or originated from the people whose story the programmes were about. I can't see why it would have made much difference if a song by John Brune had been in there alongside those by Ewan MacColl.

Of course it must have been embarrassing for Ewan to have been taken in by John's mischief, after evidently obliging Sheila Stewart to learn it and sing it.