Ewan MacColl (born James Henry Miller in Salford, Lancashire, on 25 January… Read Full Bio ↴Ewan MacColl (born James Henry Miller in Salford, Lancashire, on 25 January 1915; died 22 October 1989) is recognised as the father of the British folk revival. The writer of classics such as "Dirty Old Town" and "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" (which won him a Grammy in 1972), MacColl partnered Peggy Seeger and was father to musicians Kirsty MacColl, Neill MacColl and Calum MacColl, and grandfather to Bombay Bicycle Club's Jamie MacColl.
Innovative and inspiring, both collecting traditional songs, as well as writing new ones. He was, and remains, a very influential artist, writer and singer, committed to social issues. He travelled around the world collecting and recording songs.
Married to Peggy Seeger, he reportedly sang his most famous song - 'The first time ever I saw your face' - to her over the telephone during a transatlantic phone call.
His song 'Dirty Old Town' has been recorded hundreds of time, notably by The Spinners (the British folk group), Rod Stewart, The Pogues, Townes Van Zandt, The Specials, the Mudmen.
He was father to musicians Kirsty MacColl, Neill MacColl and Calum MacColl, and grandfather to Bombay Bicycle Club's Jamie MacColl.
MacColl and Seeger recorded several albums of political commentary songs. MacColl himself wrote over 300 songs, some of which have been recorded by as diverse as Roberta Flack, Planxty and Johnny Cash. In 2001, The Essential Ewan MacColl Songbook was published, which includes the words and music to 200 of his songs.
There is a plaque dedicated to MacColl in Russell Square in London. The inscription includes: "Presented by his communist friends 25.1.1990 ... Folk Laureate - Singer - Dramatist - Marxist ... in recognition of strength and singleness of purpose of this fighter for Peace and Socialism". In 1991 he was awarded a posthumous honorary degree by the University of Salford.
MacColl was very politically active and as well as political song he was a playwright and one of the founders of the Communist backed 'Edinburgh People's Festival' from 1951-54. The EPF was a victim of McCarthyism but provided the blueprint for today's Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Innovative and inspiring, both collecting traditional songs, as well as writing new ones. He was, and remains, a very influential artist, writer and singer, committed to social issues. He travelled around the world collecting and recording songs.
Married to Peggy Seeger, he reportedly sang his most famous song - 'The first time ever I saw your face' - to her over the telephone during a transatlantic phone call.
His song 'Dirty Old Town' has been recorded hundreds of time, notably by The Spinners (the British folk group), Rod Stewart, The Pogues, Townes Van Zandt, The Specials, the Mudmen.
He was father to musicians Kirsty MacColl, Neill MacColl and Calum MacColl, and grandfather to Bombay Bicycle Club's Jamie MacColl.
MacColl and Seeger recorded several albums of political commentary songs. MacColl himself wrote over 300 songs, some of which have been recorded by as diverse as Roberta Flack, Planxty and Johnny Cash. In 2001, The Essential Ewan MacColl Songbook was published, which includes the words and music to 200 of his songs.
There is a plaque dedicated to MacColl in Russell Square in London. The inscription includes: "Presented by his communist friends 25.1.1990 ... Folk Laureate - Singer - Dramatist - Marxist ... in recognition of strength and singleness of purpose of this fighter for Peace and Socialism". In 1991 he was awarded a posthumous honorary degree by the University of Salford.
MacColl was very politically active and as well as political song he was a playwright and one of the founders of the Communist backed 'Edinburgh People's Festival' from 1951-54. The EPF was a victim of McCarthyism but provided the blueprint for today's Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Johnny Lad
Ewan MacColl Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Johnny Lad' by these artists:
The Corries I bought a wife in Edinburgh for a bawbee. I got…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Ewan MacColl:
As I Came in by Fisherrow AS I CAME IN BY FISHERROW As I came in by…
Ballad Of Accounting In the morning we built the city In the afternoon…
Barratty-Parratty Ballad of Tim Evans Home Main Menu Folk Song Lyrics A…
Black And White The apples ripe upon the bow the orange on the…
Dirty Old Town I found my love where the gaslight falls Dreamed a dream…
Do Me Ama As a sailor was walking one fine summer day The squire…
Galloway Tam O Galloway Tam came here to woo, I'd rather we'd gin…
Go Down Ye Murderers Tim Evans was a prisoner, Fast in his prison cell And those…
Green Grow The Rashes O There's nought but care on ev'ry han', In every hour that…
I Loved a Lass I once loved a lass an I loved her sae…
Johnny O'Breadiesley Johnnie rose on a May mornin' Called for water tae wash…
Joy of Living Farewell, you northern hills, you mountains all goodbye Moor…
Lord Thomas and Fair Annie Lord Thomas was a very fine man Went oot to hunt…
Manchester Rambler I've been over Snowdon, I've slept upon Crowdon I've camped …
My Bonny Miner Lad Oh bonny's my lad as he walks down the street, His…
My Old Man My old man was a good old man Skilled in the…
Nobody Knew She Was There She walks in the cold dark hour before the morning The…
Old Billy Riley Old Billy Riley was a dancing master …
Paddy Doyle To me way ay, ay-ay, yah! We'll pay Paddy Doyle for…
Row Bullies Row From Liverpool to 'Frisco a-rovin' I went For the stay in…
Shoals of Herring With our nets and gear we're faring …
Song of the Iron Road (Ewan MacColl) The Iron road's a hard road and the work…
South Australia In South Australia I was born Heave away, Haul away In South…
Spence Broughton 1 To you my dear companions accept these lines I pray; A…
Stormalong Oh, poor old Stormy's dead and gone Storm along boys! Storm…
The ballad of Ho Chi Min Far away across the ocean Far beyond the sea′s eastern rim L…
The Dowie Dens O'Yarrow There was a lady in the north, I ne'er could find…
The Dreadnought Oh, there is a flash packet Flash packet of fame She hails…
The Driver's Song come all ye' gallant drivers where ever you may be whether y…
The Dying Soldier now you've heard of the tale of Benghaza where most of…
The Elfin Knight There stands three trumpeters on yon hill Blaw, blaw, blaw w…
The First Time Ever The first time ever I saw your face I thought the…
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face The first time ever I saw your face I thought the…
The Flying Cloud My name is William Hollander, as you will understand I was…
The Gauger There was a sailor brisk and neat A bonnie lassie he…
The Handsome Cabin Boy It's of a pretty female as you may understand, Her mind…
The Joy Of Living Farewell, you northern hills, you mountains all goodbye Moor…
The Maid on the Shore There was a young maiden, who lived all alone (She lived…
The Manchester Rambler I've been over Snowdon, I've slept upon Crowdon I've camped …
The Ship In Distress You seamen all who plow the ocean see dangers landsmen…
The Shoals Of Herring With our nets and gear we're faring …
There She walks in the cold dark hour before the morning The…
Turpin Hero On Hounslow Heath as I rode o'er I spied a lawyer…
Van Dieman's Land Now come all you wild and wicked youths, wheresoever you…
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Steven Christian Amendola
on There's Cauld Kale in Aberdeen
There's cauld kail in Aberdeen,
And custocks in Stra'bogie,
Where ilka lad maun ha'e his lass,
But I maun ha'e my cogie.
For I maun ha'e my cogie, Sirs,
I canna want my cogie;
I wadna gi'e my three-gir'd cog
For a' the wives in Bogie.
Johnny Smith has got a wife
Wha scrimps him o' his cogie:
But were she mine, upon my life,
I'd dook her in a bogie.
For I maun ha'e my cogie, sirs,
I canna want my cogie;
I wadna gi'e my three-gir'd cog
For a' the wives in Bogie.
These are the lyrics of these two verses on WikiSource. I'm not entirely fluent in Scots so I'm not sure if Ewan Maccoll's delivery of the last line in either verse is here consistent with this text, especially as Maccoll also says "Then fie, gi'e me my cogie" rather than "But I maun ha'e my cogie." I can't quite hear what he actually says in the last line.