Malcolm, I have just re-read your post of 01 Jul 08 -12.05 PM and actually thought about it a bit more. I now suspect you are right: the song probably has a much wider provenance. They weaved all over the place!

I wonder why MacColl located it in Glasgow -'as I came in by Glesga city' - a city he didn't know much about. The Hughie Martin connection?