I write them out several times, so that I get a picture of the words in my head. When I sing, I still have my notebook open though, as I'm paranoid about doing a Carthy, and forgetting the words in the middle of a song. Besides, with my notebook there, I can sing whatever is in it, and change my mind if someone else does one of mine (see the Murphy's Law for folkies thread), before I can.

LTS