Ake
People made songs to express their feelings at how they were treated - poverty, wars, hardship, revolutions - created our folk songs
The Civil rights movement in the US produced amses of songs
If people were happy with their lot we wouldn't have the folk songs we do
You egard them as "dirges" - I spent over half a century with people who regarded them as enjoyable culture and entertainment
If we all took the view you do we would make a huge bonfire of Dickens, Hardy and Shakespeare and turn to the mass froth that we are sold to get our rocks off   
You think youngsters don't want folk song for what it is I suggest a trip to Ireland where the kids have now guaranteed a three generation survival for their musical traditions
Folk song is what it is - if you don't like it - that's your loss
It would be a betrayal to abandon 'The Songs of the People for the ephemeral dross - your choice, of course
If our generation got the pleasure we did from centuries old "dirges" why on earth shouldn't the present lot
At least give them the benefit of intelligence
Jim