Interesting thread all the same. I have a great admiration for MacColls work, although myself being a rambler from Manchester I can never forgive him that..:-) I have heard in the past that he was not the easiest person to get on with but, hey, who's perfect?

I must say that I am sometimes annoyed at the almost god-like reverence show to him and how even poor performers expect us to like the work just because it is MacColls. I shouldn't get annoyed. It is my flaw - no-one elses - but I do:-( There are equally good songs and some, in my mind, equally good songwriters about even now. And just because it is written by 'God' doesn't mean it has to be performed off key with one finger stuck in the ear!

The other interesting question it poses is what about globalisation? Look at the Mudcat for instance. how can anyone, nowadays, say a particular tradtion is not their own? Surely in this day and age it is perfectly acceptable to use the resources available to all? Wonder what Ewan would have made of it all?

I am part Russian/Polish/English/Welsh with a bit of Irish thrown in. Wonder what traditions it would have been safe for me to sing? :-)

Cheers

DtG