I accept that there are circumstances when it is helpful to use lyric sheets, especially for group singing. I also accept that there are some good singers who use them, who are capable of not letting it interfere with their performance or interpretation.

Unfortunately, in my experience the singers most likely to need lyrics are also poor performers. OK, everyone has to start somewhere. However evidence has emerged during this discussion of singers, some of whom admit to being poor singers, who are trying to build up a large repertoire (albeit out of a book) or are aiming not to repeat a song. Now these are laudable aims, but to be setting themselves those targets when they have not mastered any of their songs is imo misguided. I believe it would be better for them as singers, and for their audience, if they were to concentrate on learning the basics, and only then to think about expanding their repertoire.

I think Don put his finger on it when he said that in some cases the motivation seems to be more wanting to be part of the group rather than having a genuine desire to sing. I'm sure that's not true in all cases. But even among those who do wish to sing, sometimes there doesn't appear to be the desire to achieve a reasonable standard.

There was a couple who came to a club I used to attend. In the four or five years I knew them, they made no effort to improve. They sang the same few songs, often from a book, more or less in unison with no real attempt at an arrangement. They made no effort to develop either their singing or guitar technique. So far as they were concerned, it was good enough for folk. I think the music deserves better.

Folk audiences are generally sympathetic and forgiving of mistakes, especially by inexperienced singers, so that should reduce the pressure on a nervous performer. However an environment seems to have developed in which a singer will be congratulated merely for having the courage to sing regardless of how well or badly they performed, and which gives them no incentive to develop. That's fine in its place, and novice singers should be encouraged, but it can end up bringing down standards if the idea gets around that all that's required is the mere desire to sing. I certainly don't think there's a place for that where the audience has paid to get in.

Learning a song is difficult, but it's a skill like any other. If you don't do it you won't be able do it. Apart from a small minority with genuine memory problems, most people are capable of learning songs. Do you need a lyric sheet to sing "Happy Birthday", or your national anthem? Do you need one to sing "The Wheels on the Bus" to your kids? If you can remember those, you can remember Tam Lin - the only difference is one of scale. Even the most deluded no-hopers auditioning for the X-Factor have learned their song.

As I said earlier, I don't have a particularly retentive memory - I struggle to remember my own mobile phone number. However I can sing a lot of songs from memory, because I've practiced them. Over the years, it's become easier to learn and to remember songs, because in doing so I've also practiced the skill of learning them by heart.