Dave, just about every time someone does a folksong (or other genre) "standard" (e.g., "Roll On, Columbia") at Seattle Song Circle, someone (usually Jean Smith) breaks into a parody version (e.g., "Roll-On Deodorant"). These always liven up the group.

One other type song -- similar to the "line song" mentioned above -- that works well in song circles is "call and response" songs.

I mentioned "When The Saints Go Marching In" above as a "line song." It's really not, but the chorus is a good "call and response."


Genie

PS

Gotta share an observation re books like "THE BLUE HYMNAL." Yeah, it's a useful reference and can be helpful as a memory jogger or to learn new songs, but it's too often a crutch that folks depend on unnecessarily. A week or so ago, I was at a Portland song circle that uses their own songbooks, and someone requested "Drunken Sailor." I kid you not, nearly everyone was staring at the lyric page as they sang the CHORUS: "What shall we do with a drunken sailor?"
[Hmmm... I can't remember the next line. Better read them off the page!] Amazing!