Sorry, Les - I took the day off on Christmas. Didn't see your message until noon on the 26th. See? I told you - I am not a Mudcat addict.
I've been a beginner guitarist for some ten years now, and I still refuse to play in front of anybody. I know darn well those chords are impossible, but I don't know music well enough to give you better chords.
I really love the song, folk or not. I suppose my favorite recording is the one done by Ella Fitzgerald - she makes it sound so elegant, which makes the irony of the song come through.
They may not be folk, but I think the songs of the "great" American songwriters are great material for any folk musician. The songs have certainly become part of American tradition. They've been sung over and over, by so many different musicians in so many different ways. Some may scoff, but I credit Willie Nelson with introducing me to these wonderful songs. My dad sang 'em to me first, but Willie was much more credible to me at the time.
-Joe Offer-