Bit of a groundhog day feel to this thread.

Is it OK to sing from a song book? Yes, it's OK, if you need to do so, do so. I'd urge you to try and learn songs to the point where the book is no longer necessary, but rather than you not singing, use the book.

I'm not saying that I like people singing from books/paper/lcd screens. I'm worried that what was always an amateur scene is becoming an amateurish scene. Folk fumbling about setting up music stands, the depressing sight of a table full of copy holders at a sing-around. But rather than those people not singing, I'll tolerate the books etc.

Personally I think that you have to learn the song to the extent that the written word is no longer needed to give a good performance of that song. Our songs are, for the most part, story based, try and visualise the story in your head and, I find, the song will lodge in your memory.

This is just my opinion of course, it isn't a mission statement, it isn't a knock at those who do use the written word an an aide memoir. I'll confess that, if a song doesn't have a strong narrative, I struggle to learn it. Stubborn persistence is my only recourse, it's the main reason that I don't sing many shanties, that and the fact that I've been to sea.