I will maintain till I am reduced to atoms and scattered among the four winds that folk singing has nothing to do with the song but everything to do with the simple act of singing where and when ever you wish. For no particular reason.

Some songs are more suitable for the act of just singing. I doubt we'll ever have anyone do an accapela version of Thriller about the fire as the summer closes. BUt I have heard a simply delicious version of Midnight Train to Georgia done by a fire at the High Falls Leanto
in New Yorks Adirondack Mountains. Sung by some girls that were working out of the Paul Smiths Forestry College.

It ain't the song, the tradition is the singing.

Don