well first I knew about the song was Joan Baez back in the 60's, and it struck me as really bloody miserable even in those days. In the 1960's, every folk club had its Joanie lookalike treating us to five or six minutes of the undiluted misery of this song's sentiments. Usually rounded off by that a utterly callous piece of philosophising in Donna Donna Donna, about those who value freedom finding wings to fly!

thank heaven there are no unwanted children and young mothers driven to extremes for us to worry about nowadays!

as for the legend of Mary Stewart - that's another real downer.

I remember my mother going to Holyrood House and seeing the spyhole where her nuptials and/or indiscretions were spyed on, and being really depressed that humanity was such a stew even in those days. Most days I pass the ruins of Wingfield Manor where Mary was imprisoned for a while, and its hard not to bring to mind the hideous cruelty meted out to her and her followers.

My instinctive reaction is to turn away from these songs. I feel somwwhat the same about those songs detailing the savagery of the Black and Tans.

Sorry can't help being squeamish! Am I the only one who feels this way about folksong?