I'm surprised at the lack of comment on the initial suggestion that using words is all right.
Its not.It's not singing when you do this, merely presenting words which many of the audience will be already familiar with.I cannot tolerate singers who will appear at a sing around with the same song regularly and still be reading it,time and again.There is no heart in presenting songs like this.Singing is emotional and should in some degree be an artistic gift to the audience.And as for setting up IT in front of you and reading from it...get thoroughly lost.