But I would readily agree that for all this discussion, which is interesting, no?, the real answer is to just sing the songs, tell the stories, and pass it on. I just dearly love helping people "see the movie in their mind" when I sing one of these great songs from tradition, or one of the marvelous songs of our modern folk writers. I heard Terry Gross interviewing Gladys Pip yesterday. I was nodding my head in agreement when Gladys said that she had to go there, when singing, in order to take the listener along. She was referring to knowing all about Paris when singing about it. She was referring to listening to the entire catalogue of the singers who she was honoring on her latest CD. Same way with the ballads and songs of tradition, and the songs of our modern writers. I always try to take the listener along. Whether it is my version of "Gypsy Davey", "The Death of Queen Jane", or one of Jed Marum's splendid songs like "The Banks of the Mobile" or "Con Este Beso", I try to live it and take the listener there with me.

Yeah, these discussions are interesting, even fun. But the meat of it is not to get all bogged down in it. Just sing the damn songs and play the music.

LOL.

Mick