I think most of us agree that we just can't simply stop singing to end a song. We have to bring the song to some sort of resolution.

Repeating the first verse is just one of many devices a singer can use to resolve and end a song. It works well in some circumstances, and not so well in others. And as with all musical devices, it can drive an audience batty if used too much.

I sing with a group that likes to sing together. If I'm singing a song that doesn't have a chorus, I'll sometimes sing the first verse at the end to give the others a chance to sing in harmony with me. It works very well on many songs.

If there's an instrumental break at the end of a song, sometimes it's nice to close the song with a re-singing of the first verse or the chorus.

Or, sometimes the first verse gives a rational conclusion to the song, especially if that verse tells the theme or a summary of the message of a song.

As with most things in music, there is no need for a hard-and-fast rule. And on top of that, the decision should be left to the singer. The job of the audience is to listen, not to set rules for other singers.

-Joe-

I'll be I'm not the only one here who sings Four Marys with the first verse at the beginning and end. I leave out the apostrophe at the end of "Marys," though....