Hi all,
For some time now I have been compiling lists of traditional songs for something that someday I hope to turn into a book. I'm a LONG way off from that possibility by the way! Basically when I get a new CD, or hear a new version, or a new traditional song to my ears, I write it down with all the info I know about it, cross reference it to established academic sources-Child, Sharp, Lomax, etc, as well as whatever the artist themselves says about the song. My question is this, what do you think are the most widespread, most performed, most transcribed songs. I'm looking for purely informal answers here, and feel free to include a song whether it comes from Ireland, England, Scotland, Newfoundland, America, whatever. I'm not trying to get bogged down in specifics of where it comes from, I just want what people feel are the most popular traditional songs. I will give you an example, because while doing this I realized I had no less than 20 versions of Farewell, Lovely Nancy, or Farewell and Adieu Lovely Nancy, or Lovely Nancy, or....well you get it. Another one was Fair Maid On The Shore, I was shocked when I found out how many versions I had of it! So add 'em up, much appreciated, irishenglish (Robert)