"A cursory inspection of the original script (I still have mine) makes it clear that the song has been cobbled together from two quite separate songs"
For the record, Shoals of Herring was largely based on actuality recorded from 2 Norfolk fisherman, Sam Larner and Ronnie Balls, and was inspired by Sam's account of his early days at sea.
The air was adapted of Gavin Greig's tune, 'Famous Flower of Serving Men' (Sweet William) - Ewan used it for a number of his songs.
The tune for the opening and closing verses are freely sung adaptations of the main tune (easily checked)
Conincidentally, I have just finished listening to an evening of Ewan and Peggy working on Gordon's Beggar man - magic.
I came away wishing that two singers of Ewan's and Peggy's status would have taken as much time and effort working on my singing.
I was only in the Critics Group for tw years (about the same length of time as Gordon, but at the end rather than the beginning of the life of the Group) - Pat was in it somewhat longer.
Personally, I came away with the opposite opinion to Gordon's, I fonf both Ewan and Peggy generous with their time and knowledge, infinitely patient and helpful towards a relatively new singer
I don't know enough to say what Ewan knew or did not know, but I found the time I spent in the Group inspirational and life-changing and I found much of what was dealt with by them was echoed in much of what we recorded from field singers.
Then again, I have listened to and indexed all 7 years worth of recordings of the Group over the last six months, so I may be somewhat biased.
Matter of opinion, I suppose.
Jim Carroll