Thank you, Marc Bernier. The camouflage seems superficial primarily when the originals have actually appeared, but no real scholar is going to bet on guessed-at reconstructions. Also, sometimes entire stanzas have been dropped rather than simply rewritten. The lyrics to the CD you refer to are on the Web. Few look to be from Stan's singing. IMHO the album reflects a decidedly contemporary sensibility. The decision not to publish is regrettable, though in some ways understandable. The important thing is that the manuscript and the lyrics be preserved for the unique light they shed on sailors' culture in the Age of Sail.
|