That looks to be a good read Ann. He was a wonderful lyricist. My favourite of his was
The Brigadier. I remember seeing him at our local folk club. Tiny stage, and the room could hold no more than 50 people I'd guess. Towards the end of his set he announced that "this will be my last song this evening, After it I will hide briefly behind that curtain, come back, and do 3 more".
He was startlingly original but also a man of his time. A fair amount of sexist stereotypes in his lyrics that wouldn't work today. I confess that I have to stifle an explosion of laughter when I hear the opening lines of "
On again. On again". Is that just me or men like me of a certain age? Would younger men and women today appreciate him? Do older people still find him funny? Discuss.