I'm almost sorry I started this thread for my need for the words of this song was not great. And having got the words I had thought the thread would die a peaceful and happy death.

However, I cannot apologise for linking Ewan's name with that of Stalin. He did write the song after all. And he was a Stalinist. Millions of good honest people were. I think they were mistaken but I have the benefit a hindsight. It would be tedious to list all the reasons why anyone in the 30's and 40's would thave thought that the obvious place to be was the Communist Party.

There was a lieutenant in the Soviet Army, a woman named Pavilichenko. As a sniper she killed 300+ German soldiers. She was sent on a goodwill tour of the USA where she was warmly welcomed everywhere. Now she would be called a Stalinist. But that was when the Soviet Union was our gallant ally. Political expediency had not decided yet that it was an Evil Empire.

And Woody Guthrie wrote a fine song in praise of "Miss Pavilivhenko".

And Paul Robeson ….