' A "pop ballad", perhaps, whose main purpose was to make some recording exec a pile of cash.'

The bloke who wrote Sir Patrick Spens probably did it in the hope of making a few quid by being the life and soul of some knees up back in the mists of time.

I wonder at what point it becomes morally questionable for a songwriter to have payment for his efforts.

2nd point

'"Well Al, let me surprise you - most "folk clubs" have never said that an English folk club should hear only English folk songs. But they should know the difference, and hear enough, and those............. etc"'

So just me amd Martin remember how it was.....sorry how it fell out of a midsummer eve. A pity you find yourself only able to respond to the one genre of language. gadzooks! Does that help?

perhaps it has something to do with the fact that neither of us flounced out in high dudgeon,saying - this isn't what I call folkmusic/ a ballad/ whatever. we watched the movement we loved being buggered up by intolerance.