The idea that folk music is not a genre is promoted by some of those who write their own songs. They don't get it that some songs go through a folk process by which they are smoothed out as water flowing over a rock in a stream. The songs are added to, subtracted from and changed by cultural influences over time.

The bottom line is that many of those who write their own stuff are looking for commercial success and folk music doesn't fit into that agenda. A lot of young people who want to be "hip" or "with it" do a number here.

Folk music is part of a national heritage. It will always be around despite the commercial music business and rarely because of it.

Some writers do "folk-type" songs that have the flavor of trad songs. They can be wonderful. Some trad folk songs can be awful if they're bowdlerized enough. But the
best stand the test.

Frank Hamilton