Rob,

I'm a Scot, so "The Gypsy Rover" suits me fine. I realize that "Liverpool" is not an Irish song per se, but it was a favorite of the Clancys and Tommy Makem especially, so it's a favorite of mine for that reason as well as on its own merits as a song.

Also, there are plenty of Irish and Scottish seamen who sailed out of Liverpool... Liverpool was a major shipping port and I am sure than multiplied thousands of non-Englishmen sailed from there as a matter of necessity because their hope of landing a position on a crew depended on being where the jobs were.

Saying that "Liverpool" is likely an English song based on the lyrics alone is like saying that all New Yorkers are native to the United States and to New York because that's where they live and work. Not likely by a long shot.

Anyway, thanks for the links and such, friends... I am, for those who are probably sighing over my initial post, also searching the DT and other places online. I only posted like this because I wanted sets of favorites or "classics" from fellow musicians and music-lovers. I was not just looking for material to add to my sets willy-nilly; I want to know what are the "must-hear" or "my personal top 20" or what-have-you.

Regards,

BBS