in reply to big al , it has been some of the low standard of singers nights in folk clubs, that has emptied folk clubs. al , you are missing the point , you do not change lyrics of pop songs when you sing them, neither does anybody else that i have heard, that is an essential difference between pop songs and folk songs.
yes, i do think most folk songs are better that is why i sing them because i like them, because i put them on a pedestal.
jazz singers like jazz songs for the same reason, because they like the bloody song.
steve, you like irish trad, that is why you used to play it, whereas you did not play yellow submarine at sessions did you