The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #45108   Message #667388
Posted By: Abby Sale
11-Mar-02 - 09:30 PM
Thread Name: OBIT: Hamish Henderson (1919-2002)
Subject: RE: OBIT: Hamish Henderson
Although "D-Day Dodgers" is in Ballads of World War II, most of the songs there are not by him, they are collected by him, mostly. I think he was maximally Communist at the time so there were few attributions in the booklet. The song doesn't appear in the collections specifically of his material. I believe he avoided discussing it but I think the accepted story is that the song was anonymous as a verse or two from the UK troops. Hamish collected, expanded and fully developed it.

Hamish was endlessly generous with his time, knowledge, aid, songs and his heart. He did not tolerate deception, though. Song thieves felt his wrath.