That's not what I said Brian - ornamentation for ornamentation's sake can do just that, but used subtly to underline important words, it can be an invaluable addition to the song... it's the "look how clever I am" approach to the song that spoils the song for me - neither singing nor instrumental playing"

Sorry for the misquote, Jim. I quite concur with your last statement and have certainly heard examples, though we might disagree over where to draw the line. For instance, Nic Jones' setting of 'Canadee-I-O' begins with a lengthy and beautifully played guitar intro and includes a similar break part-way through, but to my ears that doesn't detract from the narrative. It's simply a very fine piece of music that includes a well-told story.