No offense intended by my latest folks. None at all. But in spite of all the other threads on the topic, we get new queries over and over. When I see one o' those, I just want to let those not knowing the history in on where we get our opinions. It's not out of the blue. It's from good people---fine real folksingers who took the time to hold onto the artifacts and pass them along because they said something basic about humanity---or just told a good story. It's the rather lovely looseness of the entire process---the aspects that have made it a treasure hunt---that have enhanced the search for me. In spite of professors--who I respect greatly--and us revivalists to an extent also---the songs and tales and bits of jokes and medicine lore have stayed joyously aloof in their meandering journeys. It's as if Woody or Little Walter or Jack Elliott or Mac McClintock or Aunt Molly Jackson or Emery DeNoyer or Blind Lemon were, with all their wildness and unpredictability, human manifestations of the lovely randomness of the process. I love it! I enjoy how so many of us have, without any other credibility other than we liked the music, been able (with loving help from our compatriots and friends) managed to alchemically make a living of sorts from what we cared most about by singing into the wind. There was no real product other than that. Talk about supernatural occurances right in front of our eyes...

It gives me goose bumps.

Art

S'paw, I love the idea of "FLAKESONGS". I'm gonna use that as soon as I can. Wish I'd thought of it. Seems true on so many levels... I can see it now: Folksong and Flakesong as a wonderful title for a book! Thank you!!!

Art