Yes of course people do keep sheep, one or two are working in mines and no doubt there busy blacksmiths, and pickers of oakum and folks whose lives can be slotted into and explained away by the limited pastoral colours on the palette of modern folk song - with its modal progressions, and Laura Ashley aquatints. However I doubt if even these people can express their lives cogently through a miasma of sentimentality and fake olde worldiness.

When I was a kid in the fifties I knew my Grandparents brothers and their sister - some of whom were in their nineties then. that means they were born in 1850's. I can confidently tell you that none of them sang in the lugubrious tones of the folk revival. and several of them were competent performers of folk, street and music hall songs and clog dancers. they did not sing with with drone either in their voice or require one in their accompaniment.

So when if ever does the modern world and the people in it get a folksong for them.

I'm sorry if what I say sounds bitter and twisted. but where is the clamour for a folk music tv programme. could it be that the folk enthusiasts have convinced the vast majority of people (98% even)that theres nothing in folk music for them.