James Keelahagn 's lovely song, "Rebecca's Lament" is an example of someone taken by historical fact far from their own home fields, and weaving a story about it. Unfortunately, he didn't know how to pronounce Chillicothe, and it seems to remain "Chili co town" in others covering it. It's only a mild annoyance to folks who live in Ohio, and are familiar with the town, and reminds us that the writer wasn't from around these parts.

With factual inaccuracies included in great songs with lots of exposure, I can see a much bigger problem, with the song being the main way folks learn about an event. I stand corrected about "The band played Waltzing Matilda" - It makes the specificity of location, which gave it a depth, a sad thing for being incorrect. I don't think I'd want to sing it again withOUT specifying that there are some artistic liberties taken with the facts, though the gist of it is real, and important.

Joanne in Cleveland