I was just listening to Cara Dillon's new CD, and though her voice is lovely (even if the album is produced within an inch of its life) I got VERY irritated when she sang "Garden Valley". She sings,

"This is really not my home,
And where are you, my lovely Johnny?"

Given that this is a modern song written by Dougie Maclean for his wife, Jenny, I thought it was bad form to change gender and name. I definitely feel that one should sing a song for what it is, and not mess around unduly with gender, etc.

For example, when Tori Amos does her wonderful cover of Leonard Cohen's "Famous Blue Raincoat", she makes no attempt to change the lyrics or alter the feel of the song...she's inhabiting Leonard Cohen's personal narrative unapologetically. "And you treated my woman to a flake of your life,/And when she came back she was nobody's wife...What can I tell you, my brother, my killer? What can I possibly say?/I guess that I miss you, I guess I forgive you, I'm glad you stood in my way..."

Then again, people are certainly free to do what they choose and what is comfortable for them! It's my own personal opinion, of course. :)

Molly