Here we go again.
There is, and has been fr a long time, a perfectly workable definition of the term folk song, that of the IFMC,- go and look it up. If you disagree with it, suggest changes, or even a new one.The fact that people choose to ignore it is really their problem.
Not wishing to promote the article wot I rote, but suggest you read my reply to Mike Yates' The Other Songs (entitled 'By Any Other Name' I think, on the Musical Traditions website.
Folkiedave is of course quite right; the question of definition is certainly not a new one.
Sminky wrote
"They never were. And neither am I. And neither should anyone else".
Surely whether people should be interested in defining folk song is purely a matter for themselves. I have occasionally been accused of being a member of the 'Folk Police' (nasty vaccuuous litle term that!), but I can't recall ever telling anybody what they should or should not be interested in.
Azizi, thanks for that information
Cap'n, as much as I enjoy our little set-to's, you quite often remind me of one of those wasps that find their way into the car around the end of October; do dozy to do any real damage, but irritating enough to become a regular pain in the arse. Please desist or I will be forced to turn you into a pillar of salt.
Jim Carroll