Even so, Ron, I want to note the times you have joined in on a harmony with me on a song that most people did not know, or found a viola part that greatly contributed to a song I was singing. I don't know that any of those times were times when I had lyric sheet in front of me, but I don't think you would have chosen to not do so just because I had a prompt or lyric sheet in front of me.

I point this out, not to attempt to dilute your position, but to point out the clarity with which you express it as your preference, as opposed to asserting those who may rely on prompt or lyric sheets have no business singing around other people. You have your preferences, but you are more tolerant, even supportive of us lesser musicians, than your posts may be interpreted by folks like me who do not have first-hand knowledge of both your musicianship and your encouraging and empowering attitude in 3-D.

Bob Deckman and Don Firth. I have been reading your posts on any number of topics and threads over the past 8 years or so, including your posts on this and similar topics. I can't pretend to know you outside of the context of Mudcat. If I were to go strictly by what you have posted to this thread and the one or two previous and lengthy threads on the same or similar topics, I would be convinced that if I ever make it to the Northwest I should not contact you if I am interested in an opportunity to participate in sharing and making some music while there. Based on what I surmise about both of you from reading more than just this thread and the RUS thread, however, I think you might value and appreciate my participation in a song circle, even if I did have to pull out a lyrics sheet from a notebook. I might not need to do so, but there is no telling in advance. You would not appreciate my participation because of my musicianship. I'm not a musician. I'm not a performer. I might need to pull out a sheet of paper with the lyrics on it to make sure I don't completely flub a song. I'm not even primarily a lover of whatever or however one wants to define "folk." But whatever I sing is about who I am, where I come from, what I believe, and/or my empathy and understanding of the folks and conditions about which a song refers. When I sing, it is from the heart, whether the lyrics are needed for me to get through the song or not. I have reason to think Bob Deckman and Don Firth have the capacity to appreciate and value that.