Good thoughts here, all. Thanks.

I guess it really is an issue of using common sense. I was a bit surprised to see the Ireland radio play lists showed that my recording of Grace was one of the most frequently played (of songs from my CD) on the air over there ... maybe just a curiosity about an American singing this popular song from the aftermath of the 1916 Uprising.

I do know a bit of the history behind these songs, and sometimes explain it to the audience, sometimes not. In the US they are pretty much songs from a historical perspective - I sing songs from the US Civil War, from both sides, and they are likewise received as songs from a period in history - and even ones that talk of "catching and hanging the rebels," or "sending Abe Lincoln to hell" are heard with a bit of humor (and truthfully, that is typically the way in which those phrases were written).

The Black and Tan era is one of geat interest to me. My great-grandfather took care to pass on to his children, and grandchildren, stories about the era. He didn't hate the English, he didn't pass on rage against the British - but he was incensed by the way his people were treated during the era, and wanted his progeny to know about it. So for me, I see some level of personal history in the song ... but I know there are two sides to this story.

Likewise with songs from the US Civil War. I actually had a table of people stand up and leave when I played in Phoenix. I sang a US Civil War song about an Irish Regiment fighting for the Confederacy. The song called them heroes. I played song that same night about the heroes from the Union - but apparently it was not OK to see anything heroic about the other side (even 150 years later).

I think many of these types of songs can have important historical perspective, often from a personal point-of-view. I realize one must be sensitive about where they are sung, and to whom - and maybe some explanation is required when introducing the song - but there is value in this music.