Alison,
As you know I bow to your knowledge, nay even stand in awe, but I don't remember Coward ever getting to No. 1 here in the UK. The only Kenny Rodgers record I remember getting that high was his anti Vietnam song, Lucille? I'm never quite certain if that's the title because of all the parodies I've heard of it, most sexual I must admit. I know Something's Burning & the Gambler did fairly well in "the charts" ( Lord Help us and protect us from it). But I always got the impression that Coward was always seen here as one of his lesser hits.
Having said which, going back to Tim's point when he said I thought folk songs were written by men, too damn right they were. Can you imagine any woman in the 16th-18th century being allowed such freedom of thought as to write songs. Thank God we live in more enlightened times. Some (I might THE) best music comes from female writers.
Correct me if I'm wrong, they don't glorify war/physical violence, which is where we came in.
Mick