When I was young, we didn't have mics! If you wanted to be heard, you made sure you sang loud enough.

Back in the 60s, a few years before I made my first public appearance, I wrote a few songs. I never performed any of them -- they didn't appeal to me! I only do good stuff now ...

(It occurred to me that the only thing likely to happen if you walked down a lonesome railroad track in England was (a) you'd be run over by a train (less likely) or (b) you'd be told to bugger off buy a gang of Dr Beechings workmen taking up the tracks for scrap (more likely). Today, you're likey to get hit by a train if you stand on the platform, but unlikley to see any workmen ... there's a song in that, if anyone wants it!)

It didn't take me long to find that people let you know if they don't like your performance, however polite they are about it. No problem: I'm happy to sing songs we both like. I've never loaded sixteen tons (what d'you get? Filthy!), and I've never lost my maidenhead to a ploughboy (indeed, I've never heard one sing), but I don't think that precludes me singing about those things. On the other hand, I do have personal worries from time to time, like everyone else; but I don't feel inclined to share my private feelings with everyone else. Do what is comfortable, and take note of how comfortable your audience is. And don't mumble into your armpit!

Steve