Actually that Lark Rise to Candleford quote, was rather affecting, and I think not without worth. Especially for someone like me, who has found folk song relatively recently. And as such is both enthused, and blessed with sufficient youth to make the task of memorising songs probably considerably less taxing than it might be were I far older.

Perhaps for some older club members, they only started going to song sessions later in life as a retirement social activity. And so they sing whatever they remember from some past time when they may have just incidentally 'picked up' those one or two ballads? And even for those who might have had a greater repertoire, there may be loss of memory. I recall my own grandfathers increasing frustration at declining competence with tasks (mechanics, building work, engineering etc.) that he had been extremely good at up until past middle-age.