Origins: Ballad of Tim Evans (Ewan MacColl)

Subject: Origins: ballad of timothy evans
From: GUEST,gearoid
Date: 04 Jun 05 - 02:39 PM

looking for more information on this song i've heard christy moore sing. does anyone know if it is a true story or when it was written. also lyrics would be nice.

many thanks

Subject: RE: Origins: ballad of timothy evans
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 04 Jun 05 - 03:08 PM

Yes mate it's all true, that was one of the main reasons for the abolition of capital punishment in this country.
There you go.
Giok

Subject: RE: Origins: ballad of timothy evans
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 04 Jun 05 - 03:12 PM

More background
Giok

Subject: RE: Origins: ballad of timothy evans
From: GUEST,Malcolm Douglas
Date: 04 Jun 05 - 03:51 PM

The song was written by Ewan MacColl. It's in the DT twice, for some reason, as THE BALLAD OF TIM EVANS and as GO DOWN, YOU MURDERES (sic).

Subject: RE: Origins: ballad of timothy evans
From: GUEST,Leadfingers
Date: 04 Jun 05 - 06:40 PM

I knew it first as Go Down You Murderers and raised the point of the typo in the title in the DT a few months ago (NO ! NOT a dig - I know there is a backlog of stuff for the DT) . Damn fine song !
This event along with the Ruth Ellis case helped to get capital punishment abolished !

Subject: RE: Origins: ballad of timothy evans
From: GUEST,Allen
Date: 04 Jun 05 - 06:42 PM

Until 1998 it was possible to be done in for treason, violent piracy and I think desertion during wartime, but no examples spring to mind.

Subject: RE: Origins: ballad of timothy evans
From: Bonecruncher
Date: 04 Jun 05 - 11:13 PM

One could also be hanged for arson in H.M. Dockyards.
Colyn.

Subject: RE: Origins: ballad of timothy evans
From: GUEST,Folkiefrank
Date: 05 Jun 05 - 08:40 PM

The film "10 Rillington Place", with Richard Attenburgh as Christie, has a fairly accurate account of the events.

Subject: RE: Origins: ballad of timothy evans
From: Abby Sale
Date: 06 Jun 05 - 09:51 AM

I've long been confused about the timing on this. Evans was hanged in 1950. MacColl wrote the song in 1957. As I get it, the death penalty has been abolished and unabolished several times in the UK. While the song is generally given credit for an assist, my notes have Feb 16, 1956 as abolition - one year before the song.

On the other hand, if the Ballad was effective here, that is a very important item. It would be one of the very rare cases in history in which a song had a direct effect. Most "protest" songs are merely preaching to the choir and may much encourage the faithful but have little or no effect outside that group, already committed to the cause.

I base this opinion largely on the comments of Irwin Silber who did have opportunity to consider these things.

Subject: RE: Origins: ballad of timothy evans
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 06 Jun 05 - 01:34 PM

More background
Giok

Subject: RE: Origins: ballad of timothy evans
From: akenaton
Date: 06 Jun 05 - 02:02 PM

The great Hamish Imlach did a terrific version of this song ....full of righteous fury at the establishment and Capital punishment.

The song reminds us that we are all complicite when judical murder goes wrong...Ake