A local Folk Society had made arrangements to have volunteers go forward and earn money for the society buy playing in the local hospital. I had went through the halls doing my normal choices of songs and at one door there were at least seven folks standing outside this elderly man's room. A nice couple from the family stopped and asked if I would go into the room and do a song for their (elderly) father, said he'd worked for the railroad and used to sing songs. He had heard me down the hall and wanted a closer listen and I answered the call. Let's see, railroad song, Freight Train, freight train going so fast, freight traion freightr train going so fast ...etc. Well good folks, let me tell you, freight train is not the song to sing at one's dying bed. I did some quick cover up and softened the die theme to when I'm gone lord,I had got myself into a corner and wiggled out OK. It's the most uncomfy I've ever been at situation but survived. The man's family was very appreciative and said he really liked it. I learned a lesson in song selection and to be a little more sensitive to it's contents. I can't even tell you if these folks were aware of the lyrics. the patient did seem to enjoy it, but I felt like an insensitive jerk.
Mudjack