I should say I agree 100% with Whistle Stop's second paragraph. Folks, some level of irony should be evident in the song, because there are some great songs being written these days.

It may be more evident in the first verse I wrote, which was cut out because it didn't fit the direction the rest of the song went in:

'Tis true the pen is mightier,
Than any sword or gun,
And statesmen with their peaceful talk,
Are spoiling all the fun,
No more heroes, no more martyrs,
No more blood and guts and gore,
And they're just not writing folk songs,
Like they used to anymore.

<irony> Stephen, I agree with Art, and I couldn't have said it better myself.</irony>