"Joseph Baker" is a modern rewrite of a 19th century broadside ballad about Chester long distance runner Joseph Baker by Pete Coe. Many people have thought this is a traditional song and it was listed as such in at least one songbook. Some sources list the tune as the traditional "The Miller o' Dee", a minor mode tune that Coe shifted to major. Pete Coe's album notes:
Peter Massey, of Chester, sent me a broadside about a long-distance runner who ran around Chester in the 1890's and whose ultimate achievements were a mile in five minutes and an early grave. I didn't like the original words of the broadside, tried to rewrite it, failed miserably, but eventually succeeded in making a new song about Joseph Baker, taking considerable liberties with the rather doubtful background information I had about him.
It was recorded by Pete and Chris Coe on Open the Door and Let Us In (1972), Pete Coe on The Man in the Red Van (2017), Barry Skinner on Abroad As I Working (1975), Legend (as "The Ballad of Joseph Baker") on Once a Week's Enough (1977), Danny Spooner on Brave Bold Boys (2008), Johnny Coppin on Borderland (2014) and Mick Maloney on Mick Maloney with Eugene O'Donnell (1978).