If you check out the Clancy Brothers website you will find many
traditional songs the Clancy Brothers claim copywright on.
Long before Irish music was as popular as it is now the Clancy's
were huge in the USA and they quickly became aware that few if
any of the songs they were singing were in copywight, and through
their publishing company in New York, Tiparm Music, they creamed
off substantial amounts of money from these songs, either in full,
or by arrangement.
My own personal gripe with the Clancy Brothers including the
cousin Robbie O'Connell is that having learned one of my songs
THE SICK NOTE in Waterford, Ireland, personally from me, they
performed and recorded this song in the USA under the title
DEAR BOSS , with writer credits TRA/Arranged ROBBIE O'CONNELL.
In the 60's The Clancy's could not have forseen the internet
and there was no way some eejit in Ireland could ever know this
especially if you change the title of the song.
This song word for word and note for note, is, and has allways
been my song, registered with PRS in 1973.
The collection agencies in the USA have the song registered as follows
BMI. DEAR BOSS. Mike Cross.
Harry Fox. DEAR BOSS. Trad. Arranged by Robbie O' Connell.
ASCAP. DEAR BOSS. Robbie O' Connell, and the Irish Rovers.
None of the above had any input whatsoever into this song but
royalties are paid to them to this day.
The trend of changing the title began with Noel Murphy in
England, MURPHY AND THE BRICKS, who I also personally gave
the song to still claims to have had some part in it's
composition, although he was at one stage obliged to remove
his name from the writers credits.
Regular Mudcatters will know the sordid story of my entanglement
with CELTIC MUSIC/ DAVE BULMER, fool that I was, but very soon
the above copywright infringers will be brought to account.
Whatever about Bulmer, I am Pissed Off, please forgive me, at
the way my songs, and there is more than one, are ripped of in
the USA, and elsewhere.
I have always written my songs for the pleasure they give me
and my audience, money matters little to me, but the wide world
of folk music seems to think differently.
In answer to the original question I do not know of any song
which was truly written by Tommy Makem/ The Clancy Brothers, and
I include FOUR GREEN FIELDS.
I should mention one truly honourabe exeption, SEAMUS KENNEDY,
who I don't know personally but whose singing I admire.
Seamus has both credited me as the author of his recording of DEAR BOSS, and has also sent me a royalty cheque, thanks Seamus.
I feel a few beers coming on,
Cheers,
Pat.