On the stated topic of this thread:

Songs written by some, like the fine old-timey musician and song builder, CRAIG JOHNSON, (or Woody Guthrie) are, seemingly, to me, folk songs as soon as they are made.

When a good or great song is created with the style, insights, narrative content and power depicting a real and actual life experience -- from either observing this world and it's people, or from one's own imagination -- then a folk song can be written and just about instantly join the canons of the real thing that were collected and made in other eras. When you hear it, you will know it, but only, it seems, when you come to it with the baggage and tools that allow you to recognize it.

If you don't have the background to see it for what it is, you will make room for it even when it does not belong. Doing that, you will be wrong even though you have convinced millions of others to see things your way.

It's not very democratic, I guess, but it is actual truth I think.

Art