Jimmy Miller was born in Salford in the north of England in 1915. His parents were natives Scotland. His father was a militant Trade Unionist who was always protesting pay and conditions and objected being told what to do. Employers punished him his militancy and he was forced to move his family south in search of work.

Jimmy spoke a mixture Scottish and Northern English and learned to sing in both dialects. His home in Salford, Manchester, was very near to beautiful countryside called The Peak District. At that time, the members of the public were prevented walking on the moorlands and climbing the mountains which belonged to rich land-owners. Many people longed the right to ramble across this beautiful countryside without being stopped by game-keepers. Jimmy and his friends took no notice the signs saying "Keep Out!" These young campaigners lent government ministers who were sympathetic with their cause. Finally, they won the right to ramble across open land.

Jimmy took a liking political campaigning. He and his first wife, Joan Littlewood, expressed their opinions the unemployment of the 1930s, war and the advent of nuclear energy through a travelling show which was later to be known as "Theatre Workshop". Whenever they heard news an injustice, Jimmy would write a play and he and Joan would put on a new show. The plays were not at all kind their political enemies. They ridiculed people in powerful positions and laughed their misfortunes.

Shortly after his second marriage to Jean Newlove, Jimmy decided to change his name to Ewan MacColl. He named himself a minor Scottish Poet from an earlier century. His children Hamish and Kirsty were also given Scottish names.

After 1945, Theatre Workshop left the Manchester area and made London where it was to be permanently based. Soon after that, MacColl left the theatre as he came to establish links folk musicians. The strongest link was Peggy Seeger who became his singing partner, third wife and the mother of three further children.

Even if your political beliefs are the opposite Ewan's, you may still enjoy songs like Dirty Old Town and The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. His political songs were very popular groups of workers such as railwaymen, fishermen and miners. On his 70th birthday, he was presented a miner's lamp by the President of the National Union of Mineworkers who was very pleased him for his public support during the 1984 miners' strike. The miners lost Margaret Thatcher and many mines were closed down, but the Trade Union leader was proud the resistance put up by his men and their wives.

Ewan MacColl never seemed to be puzzled any issue. Everything was either black or white. Employers were always descended from the devil and unions were always right. Some of his songs seem very pessimistic the future of our planet, yet MacColl always remained optimistic the power of the individual to change the world. These definite beliefs were forged in childhood, MacColl could not see anything the matter them and was never going to part them whatever was happening in the Cold War.