The only song I ever introduce as "I had this song from ..." is Sean Cannon's version of The crabfish. I think it's a Trad version; I certainly know of one other version that was sung around my way, and another version or two is given by Stan Hugill in his Songs of the sea. I say "had from" because Sean (in his pre-Dubliner days) had been guesting at the Songsmiths FC in Walsall, and several of us spent a couple of hours together afterwards; one of us (might have been me!) asked him to sing it again, and this time the words sank in. I always give him credit as the source, and it's the one opportunity I have for honest name-dropping.

If I know the author of a song, I nornally give his/her name, unless it's so well-known as not to need it.

There was one time I asked soemone to write down the words to a song he'd sung the night before (and he asked for one of "mine"), and I've no idea what his name was; but it certainly wasn't his own
song!

Some can get away with name-dropping without one-upmanship, if they're of sufficient celebrity themselves; others are being polite; and still others are showing off. Then there's me -- thanks, Sean!

Steve