why the input about bloody Pop songs?

"Because there aren't any physical boundaries between musical genres, Leadfingers."

Having been on Mudcat since... essentially... the beginning, I can assure you we have been thru this before.

   The point is, there are different musical genres. There are people whose main interest is opera... or barbershop quartets... or 'rap'. I doubt that they would be interested in comments regarding Child Ballads being inserted into their discussions. In music stores, they put signs and labels over bins & shelves to help people find the 'genres' they are interested in. So why cannot folk/trad music have ONE site where the distinction(s) are respected?

I know that words ARE important to 'most' folk music, and as "mg" said above, I have difficulty following the words of an unfamiliar song... both because of my hearing and because my brain processes words slowly. Folk music often has many versions of trad songs... and even of songs of known authorship... so that it is very useful for **me** to see the words as I listen. (I do know people who can almost know a song after hearing it once... but not me.) It is often a catchy or beautiful tune which catches my interest... but sometimes, after really becoming aware of the words, I think.."Gee... what a silly, empty bunch of words." (The old song "Give Me the Flowers While I Live" has a catchy little tune, but all 4 verses say essentially the same thing, and become just... umm... boring.

I TRY to follow the words, because most folk music has some sort of story or concept that NEEDS understanding... quite apart from many pop songs... thus my personal take on genre.