It seems like a certain mindset gels and hardens when faced with the blue book. I don't know why there is a difference from using the book versus what I do: After I know a song 'by heart' (lovely phrase), I print off 10 or so copies, then at our song circle I pass them out and lead the group in singing it; often we sing it more than once. Then some take the song home in their notebooks and others lay the sheets down for me to gather up for later use. In a matter of a couple of weeks others have learned the song, and it has become a standard.

Now, with the blue book- somehow everyone takes ownership or maybe it's equal unownership and rarely does a song from it gain vitality, personality or life; rarely does someone make it uniquely theirs. I'm sure that's not always true- and as someone once said- was it you, Joe O?- the point is to get people singing, and without a book many people won't even try. That may be- but in my experience, the book is a pernicious influence!

flippppp. flippppp. flippppp. Here's one- page 126 Arrrgggghhhh.