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Origins: Is this how myths are created?

25 Jun 21 - 02:45 PM (#4111364)
Subject: Origins: Is this how myths are created?
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey

On Desert Island Discs this morning actor Richard Wilson (Victor Meldrew) claimed that The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face is a Scottish song?!
The song was of course written by James Henry Miller (Ewan MacColl) who was from Scottish parents and born in Salford where he spent a good deal of his early life before eventually moving to London, where he died.
The song was written for an American lady, Peggy Seeger, for a show she was involved in in America. It became internationally known following its recording by Roberta Flack, another American lady.
Lots of reasons then to claim the song is Scottish!


25 Jun 21 - 03:40 PM (#4111373)
Subject: RE: Origins: Is this how myths are created?
From: FreddyHeadey

I can only imagine it was a bit of wishful thinking - that he thought of EM as being Scottish, like him.

To be fair he did introduce it as
",,, he had written it for her,,,"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000x6cj

> 24:55


25 Jun 21 - 03:54 PM (#4111377)
Subject: RE: Origins: Is this how myths are created?
From: RTim

Like "The Shoals of Herring" is traditional...and sometimes Irish at that as "The Shoals of Erin" - not forgetting that other traditional song - "Dirty Old Town"......Myths beyond recovery I think sometimes....

Tim Radford


25 Jun 21 - 04:00 PM (#4111378)
Subject: RE: Origins: Is this how myths are created?
From: Joe Offer

Nah, Malcolm, not a myth - a myth-take.


25 Jun 21 - 04:30 PM (#4111383)
Subject: RE: Origins: Is this how myths are created?
From: G-Force

A chap at our folk club once sang "Fiddlers' Green", calling it an Irish sea shanty.


25 Jun 21 - 10:05 PM (#4111409)
Subject: RE: Origins: Is this how myths are created?
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey

Good one Joe - didn't realise Americans did that sort of humour.
(two spellings in that bit Americans would not recognise + one in this)
Are you are sure you are on the right side of the pond?


25 Jun 21 - 10:15 PM (#4111410)
Subject: RE: Origins: Is this how myths are created?
From: Joe Offer

You can never predict a Mudcatter, Malcolm - especially us American Mudcatters.
Joe Offer, Wisconsinite in California