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.
Turpin Hero
Ewan MacColl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I spied a lawyer riding before.
"Kind sir," said I, "ain't you afraid,
Of Turpin, that mischievous blade?"
O rare Turpin hero
O rare Turpin O
Said Turpin, "He'd ne'er find me out
I've hid my money in my boot."
Me gold for it's stitched in me cape behind."
O rare Turpin hero
O rare Turpin O
As they rode down by the powder mill
Turpin commands him to be still;
Says he, "Your cape I must cut off,
For my mare she wants a saddle cloth."
O rare Turpin hero
O rare Turpin O
As Turpin rode in search of prey
He met an excise man on the way
Then boldly he did bid him stand
Your gold he said I do demand
O rare Turpin hero
O rare Turpin O
Turpin then without remorse
Soon knocked him quite from off his horse
And left him on the ground to sprawl
So he rode off with his gold and all
O rare Turpin hero
O rare Turpin O
So he rode over Salisbury Plain
He met lord judge with all his train
Then hero-like he did approach
And robbed the judge as he sat in his coach
O rare Turpin hero
O rare Turpin O
For the shooting of a dung-hill cock
Poor Turpin now at last he's took
And carried straight into a jail
Where his ill luck he does bewail
O rare Turpin hero
O rare Turpin O
Now Turpin is condemned to die
To hang upon yon gallows high
His legacy is a strong rope
For stealing a poor dung-hill cock
O rare Turpin hero
O rare Turpin O
The lyrics to Ewan MacColl's Turpin Hero tell the story of the infamous English highwayman, Dick Turpin, who was active in the mid-1700s. The singer of the song meets a lawyer on Hounslow Heath and asks him if he's afraid of Turpin. Turpin overhears their conversation and assures them that he's not worried about being caught. The lawyer brags about how his gold is hidden in his cape, but Turpin is not impressed and cuts off the cape to use as a saddlecloth for his horse. As Turpin continues his criminal escapades, he meets an excise man whom he robs and leaves on the ground. Turpin then goes on to rob a judge and his entourage before his eventual capture for the theft of a dung-hill cock.
The song paints a picture of Turpin as a daring and bold hero, who lives for the thrill of the chase and the risk of getting caught. It also shows how brutal he could be, as he robs and assaults people without any remorse. The final verses of the song show Turpin's downfall, as he is arrested for a seemingly insignificant theft and sentenced to hang. The song serves as a tribute to the folk hero status that Turpin achieved, despite his criminal behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
On Hounslow Heath as I rode o'er
While riding over Hounslow Heath
I spied a lawyer riding before.
I saw a lawyer riding ahead of me.
"Kind sir," said I, "ain't you afraid,
"Excuse me," I said, "are you not afraid,
Of Turpin, that mischievous blade?"
Of Turpin, the infamous criminal?"
O rare Turpin hero
Oh, Turpin, the legendary hero
O rare Turpin O
Oh, rare Turpin
Said Turpin, "He'd ne'er find me out
Turpin replied, "He would never catch me
I've hid my money in my boot."
because I have concealed my money in my boot."
Says the lawyer, "There's none can find
The lawyer responded, "No one can find
Me gold for it's stitched in me cape behind."
my gold because it's sewed into the lining of my cape from behind."
As they rode down by the powder mill
While they were riding down by the gunpowder factory
Turpin commands him to be still;
Turpin orders him to stop;
Says he, "Your cape I must cut off,
He said, "I must cut off your cape
For my mare she wants a saddle cloth."
because my mare needs a saddle blanket."
As Turpin rode in search of prey
While Turpin was searching for victims
He met an excise man on the way
He encountered a tax collector on the road
Then boldly he did bid him stand
He boldly ordered him to stop
Your gold he said I do demand
He declared, "I demand your gold
O rare Turpin hero
Oh, Turpin, the extraordinary hero
O rare Turpin O
Oh, rare Turpin
Turpin then without remorse
Without any remorse, Turpin
Soon knocked him quite from off his horse
quickly knocked him off his horse
And left him on the ground to sprawl
and left him lying on the ground
So he rode off with his gold and all
So he rode away with his gold and everything else he had
As Turpin rode over Salisbury Plain
While Turpin crossed Salisbury Plain
He met lord judge with all his train
He met a lord judge with all his attendants
Then hero-like he did approach
In the manner of a hero, he approached
And robbed the judge as he sat in his coach
and robbed the judge while he was sitting in his carriage
For the shooting of a dung-hill cock
Because he shot a rooster that was just a barnyard animal
Poor Turpin now at last he's took
Finally, they caught Turpin
And carried straight into a jail
And he was taken straight to jail
Where his ill luck he does bewail
Where he laments his ill fortune
O rare Turpin hero
Oh, Turpin, the rare hero
O rare Turpin O
Oh, rare Turpin
Now Turpin is condemned to die
Turpin is now sentenced to death
To hang upon yon gallows high
to be hanged on the high gallows over there
His legacy is a strong rope
His legacy is a sturdy rope
For stealing a poor dung-hill cock
For the theft of an insignificant rooster.
O rare Turpin hero
Oh, Turpin, the rare hero
O rare Turpin O
Oh, rare Turpin
Writer(s): Ewan Maccoll, Peggy Seeger
Contributed by Camden V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Анзор Джылбиев
Как же отлично, моё почтение
Benjamin Denton
Much more folk like
Ryan L
Nice