Has anyone stopped to consider that if MacColl sounds a bit like Harry Lauder in this recording, that may not be inappropriate? In 'Ord's Bothy Songs and Ballads' (first pub. c. 1930) a note on 'Jock Hawk's Adventures in Glasgow' says: "This is a real Bothy Song, which no doubt describes a real incident ... It was sung all over the country in farm kitchens and feeing markets some forty and fifty years ago." So that takes it back to the late 19th century when music halls were flourishing in major cities like Glasgow. Although I've got no proof of this, every time I hear this song I get a mental image of some rouged and powdered character, in a silly suit and hat, hamming up this well known and popular song to a rowdy audience in some gas lit hall. Perhaps Harry Lauder, who started his career in a Glasgow music hall, was raised on songs like this (?) Ewan had a deep knowledge and understanding of the songs in his repertoire including their historical backgrounds and that knowledge and understanding always informed the way that he presented them.

And by the way, Ed Jones, saying hurtful things and then claiming that those who get upset have "no sense of humour" is a classic tactic of the bully!