Jim - bear in mind there were fewer songs in total [good & bad] in existence when the folk tradition sprang forth, and later became more popularized."
At the time singers were capable and happy to let forth with twenty verse ballads - word perfect from memory
I'm doing a talk today in which I intended to include an example of an octogenarian singing a song on the subject I am speaking on - the only problem is it is 16 minutes long
At 83, old Martin wouldn't have been able to see a text when he sang it but I can never remember him stumbling on one word of it
If these people could learn their songs I'm damn sure thos half and more their age can
Jim Carroll