I winced when I saw this thread reappear; what the hell was I thinking when I started this?

I don't fret over such stuff now-a-days. I don't sing the highly offensive stuff anyway - and it is clear that, for the most part it is your intention that is or is not offensive, as a few have pointed out so well here in this thread.

Actually the incident that inspired me to start the thread was a bit more peppery then I posted above - the Irish tourist lady who had just told me she knew and sang back home, so many of the songs in my show ... said, when I asked her if she'd heard Come Out You Black and Tans "Oh, yes, but we don't sing that in polite places."

I took her to mean; it might OK to sing among friendly company, but not in public.

Speaking of Tommy Makem, one of the boys told me he no longer sings Four Green Fields. I believe he felt it had served its purpose and he had moved on ... I sing when asked. It's a lovely song - but for me it serves no political cause - I often change the last line to say "my four green fields will bloom once again, said she." That is making no comment comment on the flag/s, under which each of the four blooms.