What a brilliant discussion and all good stuff for the research I am doing into the oral tradition as it applies to this song.

A couple of points. This is a work which is very much in copyright. Thus it is excellent and important that Manitas makes the point that Andy Barnes is the composer and Rich R credits the worldwide publisher Friendly Overtures Ltd. Please everybody note that if the lyrics or part of the lyrics are reproduced both these credits should be in place.

Use of these within the notion of Fair Dealing, for research, educational purposes and review, is allowed. But credits must still be given. Permision must be sought for any other use.

For those who are interested, the version by the Dubliners is one of fifty known commercially released recordings. If anybody wants the complete list, I can supply it.Please contact me at michael.batory@bcuc.ac.uk

Finally, to join the pedantic side. As the song is British, not American or Canadian as some would have it, "Colour" should be spelled with the U in place.

My recent posting about my research into the geographical, musical and lyrical progress of the song resulted in a great deal of correspondence for which I am most grateful. If anybody else has information about recordings and performances of the song, I'd love to have the details.

All the very best to those who love the song.

Michael Batory