I read this topic differently, I guess. I thought you were asking about adding a new verse to an old/traditional song with the same feel to it, to further flesh out the song. I know people do that, although it somehow seems to be scariligeous to the whole preservation of tradition (you can bet people were constantly adding new verses in the tradition.) I got a call from Sally Rogers once, asking me where I learned a song, Levi Kelly, because she'd learned it from me. AI asked why, and she said that she'd written another verse to the song. When I told her that I had written it, there was an awkward silence on the other end of the line. She thought that it was traditional. Which means, I guess in the proper world of folk music, that it's all right to add a verse to a song if the person is dead. I didn't have any problem with it. When she sings the song, she sings her added verse, and when I do, I sing it the way I wrote it.

My favorite "new" verse to a song is a third verse that Peter Stampfel of the Holy Modal Rounders wrote for Moving Day, by Charlie Poole. It is perfect for the song, and the song is too short, the way that it is. If a "new" verse fits right, it will probably be carried into the tradition.

Anybody else add a verse to an exisiting Traditional song, not a parody, or just a funny verse? If so, you're edging precariously close to being a singer/songwriter.

Jerry