Well, I guess we all have to realize that, unless we really make it big and people will like anything we sing, we have to take into account what the audience wants to hear. I used to naively think that pub audiences would love to sit through all eight minutes of "Willie o'Winsbury". No, Mary, they wouldn't. I made up a "cheat book" of songs people often request and I didn't have time to learn, and I do try to sing what people ask for. I politely say I don't know "The Unicorn", "Finnegan's Wake" and a few others which I really don't like) and I also decline songs like like "Tooralooraloora" that are just so corny I can't bear to sing them, but otherwise I give it a shot and am gracious about it. It is kind of awkward when somebody hands you their request with a tip and you don't know it. I usually ask if they have an alternative, and if they don't I'll pick a similar song or at least a song in the same genre or by the same group "I'm afraid I don't know that one by the Pogues but here's another one they did that you might like...." and I'll do that. I don't like to do songs like "When Irish Eyes are Smiling" but usually the requesters are sincere and really think that's Irish music. What annoys me is when people persist in requesting songs that are obviously not what somebody solo with an acoustic guitar could do - pop songs, broadway show tunes, heavy metal (???). If you want to hear that kind of music why are you in an Irish pub or folky coffeehouse - which is the type of places I play in???