"I bet it has, Jim. A recorded performance and its sleevenote gang aft agley."
I'm sure you're right Sub, but then you're presenting us wih a scenario where we are unable to deal in any way with past attitudes.
I have no doubt of MacColl's uneasiness in putting the ballad on The Long Harvest and I am not sure it would have been my decision to do so, but we're then left with the decision of what to do with material that gives offence - not only racist attitudes.
Do we ban all performances of The Merchant of Venice, The Taming of the Shrew or Othello; do we not book singers who sing The Gentleman Soldier, The Wedensbury Cocking (or all those incredibly dirge-like 'killing-for-pleasure' hunting songs)?
Do we demand the removal of Sir Hugh from the newly published Child collection because somebody might ignore the notes and learn the songs?
Do we face up to past practices by presenting them in a context in which they can be examined or do we pretend they never happened?
Jim Carroll