Someone once stole or borrowed all my songs.

When I started on guitar a few years ago, most of my stuff came from a small songbook full of Irish and trad stuff. After a singaround at the local club one night, it vanished from the table where I had left it.

It equally mysteriously reappeared a few weeks later. I suspect that the state of illegibility to which I had reduced it prompted its return. Over the months, I had covered most of the pages with biro scribblings as I jotted down extra verses, put new chords over the staves and so on. It had reached the point where even I was confused as to which marks were lyrics and which were chords. If I had heard anyone sing "AmLast night as I lay Gdreaming, of pleasant Amdays gone by...", I would have known the culprit immediately.

I may occasionally hear someone sing something intriguing, and ask for details; but I generally regard that song as His/Hers within that particular setting. I may perform it elsewhere, preferably several hundred miles away, but would prefer not to tread on anyones' toes.

Incidentally, Clinton Hammond ought perhaps to wonder who put the skunk under his porch ...