oh ffs -- have you nuthin' better to do than pontificate, Observer? Spend all yer time cuttin' and pastin' irrelevant cr*p that no-one on this MUSIC and SONG discussion forum has any interest in?
- Many years ago those of us attending Jean Redpath's Ballads and Traditional Song class at Stirling Uni were told by a Scottish History lecturer and writer (interestingly enough an English woman- - an open minded one!)that for the facts of a historical event you went to the history books (well, facts from the point of view of the winner)but for how the people-- ie The People - actually thought / felt about what happened, the emotions, you went to the songs and ballads.
Jim McLean is an excellent recorder and interpreter of recent and some more distant historical events in tis country - and particularly from a Scottish perspective, I have been singing many of his songs for 60+ years (often without realising who the composer was!)
- I take extreme offense at the way you have been slagging off a man whom I hold in high regard.
So -- why don't you take all your cut-and-pasted comments down to your local, have yourself a pint of your weak warm ale and seek a like minded soul who might actually appreciate your ideas- - 'cos I don't think many /any genuine folkies want to waste their online time.
And -
if my comments have crossed the line and this thread gets closed down - great! But please 'Observer', don't join in any more folk music discussions!!!