"Millions of people are getting confused"
Millions - I think you radically over-estimate the number of people of people who listen to anything folky or even folkish
Thousands maybe, and even among those who listen to The Village People - whatever they call themselves, there is no consensus of what constitutes 'folk' on the club scene.
"They sat incredulously whilst an old bloke with his trousers up to his tits stuck his finger in his ear and warbled some unintelligible words."
If this is how you view folk music it goes a long way towards your attitude to it - I'm happy that Harry, Sam and Water nebver became part of that somewhat offensive and highly offensive side of the folk scene.
The Foggy Dew entertained people for several centuries and conttinues to do so today - one of my particular favourites.
I have to drag down Fred Dallas and Co's 'Electric Muse' off the shelf to remember what 'Electric Folk' was all about - didn't last much longer than one pf my better farts.
"Uneaten"!!!
Been a major part of my staple diet for a major part of my life - and many like me.
I thought it was us 'finger-in-ear' merchants who imposed our tastes on others - stop being a musical fascist Muskie - I had you marked up as being better than that.
"folk - the only music where nobody can agree"
I totally share your incredulation.
Jim Carroll