When my late aunt was a widow, losing her eyesight, I used to spend my vacations acting as her chauffeur. When we'd drive through Amherst MA, we'd sing "Lord Jeffrey Amherst was a soldier of the crown..." She knew all the words, because her father and his brothers had all gone to Amherst college, and the school song was a staple at her childhood family gatherings.

My own mother's house was also "over the river and through the woods," which I always sang to my kids whenever we'd be getting close. I used to sing to my kids a great deal, and they were constantly embarrassed thereby. I assured them that embarrassing them was an essential part of my job description. Now my younger one is 22 and he knows hundreds of songs, and plays guitar(s), mandolin, and pennywhistle.