She sings bits from the album, including The Gypsy Rover, and remembers how that song changed her life. Ms. Collins tells why, having not recorded them before, she included Danny Boy and Gypsy Rover in Live at Wolf Trap. She describes the qualities she appreciates in both. She compares the two and others to her own compositions, singing the examples. She describes what she thinks makes a song a classic, how people always have and still do use music, and what memory contributes to both.
Live music is discussed.
Ms. Collins illustrates the power of simplicity. Real emotions are compared to ersatz ones. Acknowledging her role in adding orchestration to popular music, Ms. Collins champions natural sounds. The conversation turns to Amazing Grace. She recounts it s history, wondering if the melody was influenced by melodies from the holds of slave ships the author commanded before converting to the abolitionist cause.