'that' situation, Mudjack, is precisely the biggest problem. You outlined very clearly what I have seen happen a number of times.

To repeat: IF you can lead/sing the song clearly and reasonably with just a little help for your memory, by all means, go ahead. Otherwise ASK if anyone else can.....if no one knows it, DON'T try to cobble it together from 17 vague memories of the tune, rhythm and pace. All you will succeed in doing is driving away many of the better singers who cringe in discomfortat good songs being half-done.

If you don't mind this result, be my guest...I guess it is possible on some level to enjoy the awkward attempts, but not for many of us.

Once more....the point is usually to have a good song rendered in an enjoyable manner, even if you are reading some of the words....even better is to gradually reduce the amount of dependance on the book.