In a very real sense, collecting, cataloguing and preserving folk song for future generations is a lot like historical geology and archaeology. The more we uncover, the more we realize that we have barely scratched the surface. Every time paleontologists think they have a fair handle on the evolution of dinosaurs, a new one pops up to bring their theories into question once again.

I disagree that we have no more to discover. I think the definition of folk song, always a contentious subject, will continue to evolve. I also do not think that everyone who has something to contribute has been interviewed or recorded, despite all our excellent efforts. Stay tuned for further developments and keep the lamp lit in the meantime....