That Pete Seeger. He sure knows something about folk music. Liam, lyric creep occurs. Just as the picture of the bird is not representative of the bird today, it does in some way represent the bird at the time of the picture. There are times when the singer may want to take the audience back to that time, to understand better the life the original singer led. Then the singer will want to adhere to the "original" lyrics as much as is humanly possible.

This could mean that you might include "nigger" in a song. However, I would think it would be more educational and less insulting if you explained your purpose in doing so. I don't think society should easily forget how easily such epithet could roll off the tongue and be accepted by so many. Songs can remind us of that.

Like Sandy, I am often amazed at the major changes I make in songs over the years when I think I am doing "picture perfect" renditions.

Liam, I think you have no chance of doing it exactly right, so do it the best you can do.

Roger in Baltimore