I was wondering if it was permissible or even ethical to change a word in an old song? .For instance, I am learning a song where the captain of a ship is described as a Mexican when in fact he was Norwegian. The ship was the "Mexico" (from Songs of the Wexford Coast). This is a well known fact,although the song has always been sung as the captain being Mexican . I met his great grandson a few months ago and had the nationality confirmed .