WE can take this to amazing extremes if we wish. I for one don't wish to. I sing The Year of Jubilo and I sing

"Workers have you seen the master"

I sing it like a northern whiteman. I never sing in dialects unless as a broad burlesque. I want to be what I am not what I am perceived to be because of an affectation.

But I think its important to know these songs as they were written. Because of the history they carry and of the age they represent. (Those who forget their history are condemed to repeat it.) At one time, simultaniously nigger had two meanings. One was racist in the south and in the Windrivers, or along the Musselshell it meant hard worker among the mountain men. Doesn't make the word less distasteful for me, but there is a fascination to me.

And just cause you know them as written doesn't mean you have to sing them that way.

Don