Lyr Add: The Ballad of Billy McFadzean - author?

Subject: Lyr Add: The Ballad of Billy McFadzean - author?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Apr 19 - 07:03 PM

I got an email request for songwriter and copyright information about "The Ballad of Billy McFadzean," a loyalist song set in 1916. The song sounds more recent to me than 1916. Anybody know who wrote it and when, and who holds the rights to the song?

Here are the lyrics from Wikipedia

THE BALLAD OF BILLY McFADZEAN
Songwriter:

Let me tell you a story of honour and glory
Of a young Belfast soldier Billy McFadzean by name
For King and for Country Young Billy died bravely
And won the VC on the fields of the Somme

Gone Like the snowflake that melts on the river
Gone like the first rays of days early dawn
Like the foam from the fountain
Like the mist from the mountain
Young Billy McFadzean’s dear life has gone

Now Billy lies only where the red Flanders poppy
In wildest profusion paints the field of the brave
No piper recalling his deeds all forgotten
For Billy McFadzean has no known grave

CHORUS
So let us remember that brave Ulster soldier
The VC he won the young life that he gave
For duty demanding his courage outstanding
Private Billy McFadzean of the U.V.F.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=fP6bRMMHRig

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Ballad of Billy McFadzean - author?
From: GUEST,John Moulden
Date: 03 Apr 19 - 09:35 AM

I was given a copy of the text following a lecture to prisoners in the Maze in the 1990s. I don't think it's much older than that, written in response to a need in the 80s and 90s for Loyalists to have some popular heroes. There is a version on YouTube sung by the guy who gave it to me, Noel Large, now, I believe, a social worker in west Belfast. I think he may have written it. I have no way of tracing him at present. The air is, of course, also used for James Connolly, the Irish Rebel.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Ballad of Billy McFadzean - author?
From: GUEST,Jamie
Date: 19 Apr 19 - 06:48 PM

I believe the song may have been written by the former leader of the Ulster Volunteer Force, the late Gusty Spence, but cannot confirm it. I certainly have a memory of hearing him interviewed on the radio where he discussed McFadzean in the context of this song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Ballad of Billy McFadzean - author?
From: GUEST,StephenMillar
Date: 01 Dec 19 - 03:57 AM

Hi Joe,

Bobbie Hanvey attributes the song to Gusty Spence In an interview from 1995, but it's not clear if Spence claims it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziB316bUKBE&t=287s

Further, when I've spoken to singers and audiences in the loyalist song scene, some said they didn't think Spence wrote it.

I know Noel Large didn't write the song (I interviewed him about it earlier this year) and (like others) he isn't 100% sure who did.

The first recorded version I have heard is from 1982.

John is right in saying that the melody is the same as that used for the rebel song 'James Connolly', but both songs borrow the melody from the older Scottish folk song 'Dark Lochnagar'.

I'm currently carrying out research for a book project on loyalist songs and will update this post if I encounter new source material along the way.

Similarly, if anyone has any more leads on the song, I'd love to hear from them. My email address is: [e-mail]

All the best,
Stephen

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Ballad of Billy McFadzean - author?
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 01 Dec 19 - 01:30 PM

I don't know how close this is to anything because I've never heard the song before. However, it sure is beautiful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfQ-Rf1bDEk&list=RDXfQ-Rf1bDEk&start_radio=1&t=66