Jim:
As an atheist, I occasionally read bits of The Bible - for the beautiful use of language, for the stories, and sometimes for annotating and referencing songs and stories in our own collection. I am always struck by how superior the old King James translation is to the modern re-write. The new one maybe more concise, but 'Lost in Translation' just about sums it up for me.

Yeah, both a history teacher and an English teacher in my high schools told us to read Song Of Solomon as a lesson in how to write a love song. It doesn't have the same beauty in the NIV. Bleagh. Just as I would never alter something as lovely as "Dark Eyed Sailor". I'd likely run screaming from the room if anyone ever did.

I'm just not against making songs relevant. I agree with some others here that such relevance is short-lived, but I like *some* of it. And yes, parodies are cute, once. Altering a song for location is something that's always been done, as has altering for an audience. Look at the tales of Robin Hood, and King Arthur, or even Dick Turpin. My dad played at being Dick Turpin, then was shocked as an adult to find that his hero was simply a sheep rustler and all around villain. Things take on lives of their own, once people get hold of them. They should, or they don't deserve to last. (Take that, Justin Bieber!)

Carol