I can give one concrete example. The song 'Wind and Rain' whcih is an American version of 'The Two Sisters' has a lovely tune. But the story begins 'in the middle' with two sisters walking along, when one pushes the other one in the water to drown. In the 'original,' the singer tells something of the rationale behind the action: the sisters both love the same man, who has given the younger sister a 'gay gold ring,' while giveng the elder sister 'not a single thing.'.

When I sing the song, I begin with verses from another version of the song which add the background of the jealousy. [Also, it makes the song a little longer] It still has the refrains, 'O, the wind and rain,' and 'O the dreadful wind and rain. I do leave out the verse about the elder sister going 'over the seas, and there she was eaten by wild savagees.'

Padre