I like the overall concept that you have to *believe* in the SONG when you sing.

At times this means there are songs I don't think I can be *believable* when I sing and even if I love 'em, I don't try to add them to my repertoire. Songs that are strongly from a man's point of view with the flavor of first-person narrative are the ones that are the most difficult. Yet, I sing "Lass of Glenshee" or "Kisses Sweeter than Wine" that are clearly songs about a man's attitude towards a beloved wife. Perhaps I can sing those 'cause I was a beloved wife once? I dunno... but what the songs express ... they *feel believable* to me.

Songs dealing with faith are a very interesting area, and get right down to the key of belief, and makes many of us find a place where we draw the line. Sometimes that's with simple folkprocessing "Goddam" into "goldurn, " or the like.

If a song details a theology (or specific lack thereof) I'm not comfortable with, I won't sing it. Fer instance, David Tamulevich's "Ours is a Simple Faith" is a lovely singable, joyous, song. I love David and lots of his songs. This one, I can't sing "there is no heaven or hell" because I seriously believe the opposite. I've also found there is a line to what I'll sing in the bawdy tradition, (which I LOVE,) that I just can't cross - I can imply alot, but out and out raunchy and pottymouthed? I back away from that. In that case, it's what I'd want people who hear me sing to *believe* about me, and who I am.

Joanne in Cleveland