I'm usually the one who defends the Rise Up Singing songbook, but I have to say that some of the lyrics changes in early editions of the songbook get me really angry. When first published, the book had all sorts of changes to make songs more politically correct. The more recent editions have done away with most of those changes, and I understand that Sing Out! will not allow any such changes in the second volume of the book, which will be published next year.
I do think that there are times when it's proper to change offensive lyrics, but there oughta be a darn good reason for making the change. But changing the lyrics to fit the singer is another matter - how else can the singer make the song his own?

...and it is my opinion that I did a wonderful job of making the "Key of R" my own...
Harumpf!!!!
-Joe Offer-