M-M
as a practice Ewan chose an air for his songs, kicked it around(drving the household barmy as he wandered around humming it) till it became something else
I was there on several occaions while he was doing it
He had favourire tunes ('Famous Flower of Servibg Men from Greig was a favourite) - which he used for several songs (all different in the end
The only air I can remember him usinf straight was that for his best song IMO ' The Joy of Living' which he lifted straight from a Sicilian folk Song
Jim