"If it (singing out of the RUS hymnal) makes for an enjoyable session, fair enough". Indeed, fair enough. Just make sure those of us who don't in fact look forward to an evening of people stumbling through every blessed verse of a song they have possibly never seen before, and whose melody they may or may not have an inkling of, are warned--we'll stay away.

I repeat--even in RUS circles there must be some people who actually don't need that crutch--which is much worse than a "cheat sheet"--at least with a cheat sheet, you have prepared a bit to sing. It's not just open to the book to page 34 and sing the second from the bottom.

And being able to plow through all verses proves only that the singers can read English. There is not necessarily anything musical about the experience.

It's a question of priorities. ANYBODY who can carry a tune can learn a song. Then you learn another. It's easier for some than for others--but it gets progressively easier. Anybody who takes a shower every morning can learn songs--and if you sing the same one every day in the shower--where you even have friendly acoustics-- it probably won't take long. There have already been threads on how to do it--and we can continue them. It's not a question of showing off by singing a 25-verse ballad. I don't know anybody who does that. Most of us, I suspect, like to sing songs with choruses--and like to sing harmony and hear others do so.

As Stewart points out, in every RUS circle especially if the same songs are often sung, there are people who already have picked up several songs by osmosis.

RUS was never meant as a hymnal--it's absurd to treat it as one--and, as indicated by many already, doing so will drive away the better singers.