The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #162666   Message #3898158
Posted By: Steve Gardham
08-Jan-18 - 03:06 PM
Thread Name: New Book: Folk Song in England
Subject: RE: New Book: Folk Song in England
Another point that might be relevant is Harry did have a collection of broadsides. I'm pretty certain he stated he hadn't learnt his songs from the broadsides, but I have also heard he did use them to add to his own versions and to brush up on what he was singing.

The addition of the last verse is curious. I'll try to find a version of 'O no, my love, not I' that has it just for comparison.

Harry was very keen to add other songs to his large repertoire. He knew he couldn't sing the songs of his fellow singers in the local pubs (ownership rules) so he went further afield around more outlying villages looking for new songs to learn. I wonder if he came across Sam or Walter and adapted their second verse. Of course by 1965 all 3 of them were quite famous, especially in the folk world so it would seem logical that they could have met up.