I accept there is no evidence that singing MacCaffery was ever illegal, although until very recently the idea lived on among traditional singers that it was. Jim Eldon once told me a story about recording from an old gypsy singer three verses of MacCaffery which were so mangled as to make them wholly unrecognisable and incomprehensible, and yet then confidentially announcing that 'you can go to jail for singing that!' But there was a song praising Richard Parker the executed leader of the Royal Navy mutiny at the Nore in 1797, and I believe there is some evidence to suggest that ratings were subsequently charged with sedition for singing it on board ship. The only bit I can remember off the top of my head is: Farewell Parker, you bright angel. Once you were old England's pride. Although that you were hanged for mutiny The worse than you are left behind.
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