Dave the gnome, would you yourself perform this song? Or any other piece that would be in need of an introduction to set it in context? How would you introduce it? BTW when I was first researching this song, I discovered the following review of the "Calypso in New York" in which the reviewer spends a while discussing the song. He (or it could be she) mentions that they went to school in Guyana in the 1950s. They share my (and Alan's) views about the intent of this song. The comments about this song are worth adding: "[Maybe so and I haven't heard the original but] I spent 18 months in the education system of British Guiana, which is both geographically and culturally close to Trinidad, beginning about six weeks before Cat o’Nine Tails was recorded. Remembering the centrality of ‘licks’ (corporal punishment) to discipline in those days, I strongly doubt that there’s any irony involved".
This isn't to say that the song couldn't still be ironic, and the review above says it could still be, but would you perform it or "I hate wogs" by Eric Bogle (i feel a bit funny typing that title) without at least an introduction? Has anyone, singers in particular had any experiences of doing controversial songs? How did you handle the introductions?