'"but I don't really see how Banks of Green Willow could be made non narrative. It tells a story, doesn't it?"
So Does Sheep Crook and Black Dog" but that "Rock on Shepherd" version that was put up as good has completely drowned the narrative and turned the song into electric soup totally devoid of interpretation'

Jim that is in your opinion. In my opinion the words are perfectly understandable, have lost non of their meaning and the musical arrangement both enhance the song and makes it more likely to be heard by people out of our small circle of folk music enthusiasts. I have listened to this version many times as the music makes it more enjoyable than the original for me. We just have different tastes - your electric soup is my interesting soundscape :-)