It is frightening and rather sad how many songs the world has forgotten. I recall watching a special on TV about a fellow over in Scandinavia (?) I think not sure. Anyhow he was an older gentleman and he had an entire epic poem about the history of his people in his head and he sang portions of it. They called him something like the last Runesinger or something. My heart really ached as I watched this special. The thought that all this wonderful knowledge in song form was destined to die with him was nearly unbearable. The newer generation are growing up ignorant of a rich heritage present in so much folk music.

I remember I put in a request way back for a song my grandmother remembered her father singing to her as a child but her memory was failing her and she couldn't remember the whole song. I told her about having found the song in it's entiriety on Mudcat and it was really touching that she was able to make that connection with her father once more by having the knowledge of that song in her posession. :)