A friend and audience member pointed out to me after a recent gig that nearly everything I sang was about something miserable. I honestly hadn't registered this. Then I recalled what I had sung about: overwork, an honour killing, dying for love, begging, a hanging song, unrequited love, lost love, etc. I tend to pepper my sets with 'happy' tunes, so it's not all relentless doom, but then I got to thinking ... I sing mainly English traditional: where are the happy, even joyful songs?

I do sing Limadie (I didn't do it that night) with the 'disapproving parents' verse missed out, just so it is a 100% happy love song. Could Mudcatters suggest any other traditional or 'in the tradition' songs that are simply celebrating something joyful? Preferably but not exclusively English, as that is what I tend to do (simply because it suits my style best), but anything will be considered.

Must go and look up some happy Copper family nature songs ...