One more ...

I wrote a song about a Confederate Irish Regiment - they were Irish born, or sons of Irish immigrants living in New Orleans just before the Civil War. The song is called the Fighting Tigers of Ireland. It honors the men of the 6th Louisiana ... now when I wrote it, it never occurred to me that some would find it offensive. But I played it once in Phoenix, and had a few people get up and leave. They didn't complain (to me) - but they'd clearly been enjoying the show up until then. I've since noticed some will not clap for the song, though they enjoy the rest of the show.

It's too bad. It's a good song. So I've made the attempt, when there's time, to comment on the issue before I sing the song. If there isn't time, I don't sing it.

Even if you couldn't support the Confederate cause, or hate the slavery it tried to protect - surely afer 150 years you can still recognize the bravery and indeed heroism of some who fought for it.

I've never had the same reaction for any of my Yankee songs.