Fair enough, Mick!
Situation understood - abc2xml does what it does, but ignores lyrics.
I can work with that as a concept.
MuseScore, the free programme I am using for arranging dots doesn't have problems adding a line of text under the telegraph lines.
My main immediate project is taking the ABC version of The Morris Book - turned into ABC format by our own Snuffy and converting it to Music XML, so I can make my own fancy tarted-up printed copies for personal use.
Of course, anything I convert from Vaughn's abc will be offered back to the Morris Ring for portability to any of the increasing number of programmes which support the format.
Quack!
GtD.