The only bit of sanitizing I will do to a song is if one word is overtly racists and a sub can be found that still tells the story. The Year of Jubilo has the line "....darkies have you seen the master..." I substitute "...workers..." and continue on with what is, for the most part, a positive song.

Several years ago I got into it pretty good with with some people on the forum over Gypsy songs. For the most part, here in the States, there is still a romantic view of the Gypsy life and there isn't the racist connection. In fact the name Travelers has more of a negative tone than does Gypsy. Ewan Macoll and Peggy Seeger certainly used the word in The Traveling People.

I am more likely to "English Up" a Scots song a little to make the lyrics more accessible to a US audience. Pad The Road is a good example of a song that requires little alteration and still keeping the charm.

Perhaps it it isn't enough to just he aware of your audience but it certainly would be a start.

Don Meixner