I think with all these songs. Its down to the performance.

If you want poetry - read poetry. Its a diferent sort of pact - between you and the poet.

With ballads the pact is definitely between the performer and the ballad. not even the writer of the ballad. the performer selects the bits he can make work. brian for example leaves those bits out of ships capenter about the hills of hell, and the hills of heaven - presumably cos it slows down the action.

I didn't always feel that way about Sheath and knife. i used to like Tony Rose singing it.

i've heard other pretty good singers have a shot - paul downes and martin carthy and not really liked it. In fact I was sorry when I heard paul and phil were planning it as one of the trax for their reunion recording. I just think its a waste of effort by talented people.