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.
The Dying Soldier
Ewan MacColl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
where most of the fighting was done
where many a young british soldier
was killed by the old [...] gun
he laid himself up on one elbow
and the blood from his wound it ran red.
and turning to comerades around him
these were the last words he said
under the african sun
oh burry me deep in the desert
my duty to england is done
so they burried him deep in the desert
with allah? to watch o' his grave
they burried him deep in the desert
his young life for england he gave
now when you get back ol' blighty
when the war it is over and won
remember the young brittish soldier
burried under the african sun
Ewan MacColl's song The Dying Soldier is a poignant yet haunting depiction of the life of a young British soldier who lost his life during the war in Benghazi. The song begins with reference to the bloody war in Benghazi, where many young British soldiers lost their lives. The singer of the song finds himself bleeding from a fatal wound and while lying on his elbow, he requests his comrades to bury him deep in the desert under the African sun. The young soldier offers his life to England as his duty is done. The song paints a vivid picture of the tragedy and sacrifice that many soldiers endured during war.
The lyrics in the song speaks to the intense impact war has on young lives. It is a poignant reminder of the toll war takes on these young men and women. The young soldier's last request is to be buried deep in the desert, under the African sun where he gave his young life for England. By appealing to religious faith, and the traditional view of England's strength through the bravery of its soldiers, the song reflects the pain, sacrifice and loss in times of war.
Line by Line Meaning
now you've heard of the tale of Benghaza
Let me tell you the story of the battle of Benghaza
where most of the fighting was done
A place where the bloodiest war was fought
where many a young british soldier
Where brave young soldiers from Britain
was killed by the old [...] gun
Fell to the old enemy weapon
he laid himself up on one elbow
With his arm by his side, he raised himself up
and the blood from his wound it ran red.
Blood flowed profusely from his injury and stained the ground red
and turning to comerades around him
Addressing his fellow soldiers beside him
these were the last words he said
These were the final words from his mouth
oh burry me deep in the desert
Please bury me in the heart of the desert
under the african sun
Where the warm African sun rays fall on my burial ground
oh burry me deep in the desert
Please bury me in the heart of the desert
my duty to england is done
I have fulfilled my duty to England
so they burried him deep in the desert
His body was laid to rest deep in the desert
with allah? to watch o' his grave
May Allah watch over his burial site
they burried him deep in the desert
His body was laid to rest deep in the desert
his young life for england he gave
He made the ultimate sacrifice for England at a young age
now when you get back ol' blighty
When you return to England
when the war it is over and won
Once the war is won and done
remember the young brittish soldier
Don't forget the brave young British soldier
burried under the african sun
Buried under the hot African sun
Contributed by Leo E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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.