Strangely enough the country music scene with working class people in it, could see the connection with folk music. But the middle class folkscene could never see the connection - mainly cos it was middle class class folk protecting their various fifedoms, subsidies, etc.

Peggy Seegers song for example about about a wife telling her kids her man was away in England working on repairing the motorways, had extra resonances for Irish families and it was a country hit - very popular amongst Irish lady country singers in that period.

In England, of course it was okay to sneer at Peggy - she was American.

As Tony Capstick famously remarked, Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger - they say every man carries his own cross round with him.

I just see a lot of middle class sneering. Most of it ignorant , uninformed by experience.

You think my thoughts are dangerous for the future of folk music, Mr Guest. Creative thought is never dangerous.

Of course the hammer blow against the English country music scene was another one of Margaret Thatcher achievements for the economy. The professional country music scene was dependent on on the Miners welfares - once the mines had gone, that was it.

What is it Hamish Imlach sang in the Men of Knoydart - we know our enemies by now, and Mister - you are one!