Whether a song is appropriate or not is all about context. There are times when Tom and I missed out a certain song we'd been planning to do because we felt it might make someone feel uncomfortable. If i was doing a schools workshop on Race and The Tradition, I might even sing a song with the n word, assuming the school were confortable with that level of debate.

When there's a line open to different interpretations as in FTB, I'd have no hesitation in saying it took it to mean black-hearted, then singing the song. There's no racist connotation in the association of black with darkness (either literal or figurative) - though there is in the association of dark skin with darkness.

The problem with street dancing is that there is only limited opportunity to set a context. Even if the squire were to bawl something about disguise to the crowd, many wouldn't catch it. Meanwhile the pictures continue to appear in the media, and assumptions are made unchallenged.

A chum once suggested to me that dancers cling to disguise not for fear of being recognised by their employers or the authorities, but for fear of being recognised by their friends! (oops - did I say that out loud?)

Tom