" ... many people for various reasons cannot hold words in their memory there is nothing wrong with using the words as long as you make a good effort at a song"

Hmmm. I'm afraid I'm going to have to disagree with that, Megan L. I suspect that many people who claim not to be able to memorise the words are a bit like many people who claim that they can't sing - they've never really tried.

Good singing is not particularly easy - it takes effort and practice, practice, practice. I've been to far too many sessions recently where it is quite obvious that certain people are putting minimum effort into their performances - and it shows! When I see someone reading the words off a piece of paper my immediate assumption is that they are too bone-idle to learn them. If it ever turns out that someone about whom I have made such an assumption has a genuine memory defect (and can show me a doctor's note to that effect) I will make an unreserved apology!