On another thread I just posted the following text, and I now realise I'd have been better to start a new one. I've a notion that the thorny question of who wrote what part of Wild Mountain Thyme has been well aired beofre in this forum, but that is not reflected in the Digital Tradition, so let's have another look. -------------- Message to a thread about 'There Was An Old Piper': Thought I'd see what the Digital Trad has to say on ownership of Wild Mountain Thyme. The lyric itself says copyright Jimmy McPeake. Beside another old religious lyric which is clearly a part source it is flatly stated that Francis McPeake (old Francie, this, rather than middle Francie, of course) 'wrote it' i.e. WMT. The latter discussion at least acknowledges that the old religious lyric is founded on The Braes of Balquidder lyric and tune. The words 'copyright' and 'wrote' are different things of course. Who is this Jimmy McPeake, by the way? I suppose a current mover and shaker in the family. Can he own copyright on behalf of someone else who made the song?