To say that the songs are narrative first and music second is surely a personal judgment, a foible or whim. The modern versions of the songs are plainly interpretations of them. All you are saying is that you do not like them. That's a row and spat I have had more than once - I know my version of "the Innocent Hare" does offend some: I don't do it the way the Coppers did. But its the song my local traveller friends ask me to do more often than any other. And I remember a professional singer seen at many festivals saying my version (closely inspired by the Young Tradition) of Byker Hill (the modern hymn tune version) was awful - we were shouting (allegedly). Funny that, it's the song I get asked for across the board more than any other.