This is so interesting! I'm in Canada, and years ago schools gave up the daily singing that I grew up with in the classroom. I always loved that time of the day.

When I studied in an Education program, I stumbled over UK research about how healthy it is for boys--both younger and teens--to sing. Most of the research was done in boys' only schools (you have a few more of those over there :) But that idea has always stayed with me.

You also have the pub scene, yes! Here in Canada there's not even a collective knowledge of traditional tunes to start singing in a pub.

Honestly, I suspect those old songs resonate in ways we hardly understand. And because they ARE traditional, it's easier to sing the very emotional lyrics--it gives the singer a needed outlet! If the songs have new lyrics, the singers will have to think about them...and that might bring all to a swift end!

Interesting, though, to think about what lyrics would appeal to contemporary men, in solid old 4/4 time, for a sing along. (I'm sister to 3 brothers, and mum to 3 sons, so such questions are always with me.)

Thank you for this piece. I've been enjoying much of your work of late.