"but it is oversung around these parts. "
I know what you mean Dick, but songs tend to be oversung because they are good songs that move people and the fact that you may hear them too often doesn't alter that.
I must have heard it hundreds of times, but whenever it worked for the singer and is not being mindlessly belted out, it has never failed to move me
It says what needs saying.
I heard it sung by an elderly man last night in a singing session and I found myself with tears in my eyes after his performance - it moved him, so it moved me.
In my opinion, the more you know about these songs, the more likely you will get thhem to work, for you and the audience.
Jim Carroll