HI...JO MAPES HERE. CAN YOU COME UP WITH YOUR FIVE FAVORITES,OR TEN?, TWENTY,IF ASKED? SOMEONE RECENTLY ASKED ME.THERE ARE SO MANY THAT I LOVE.. HOW TO CATAGORIZE THEM? WHAT IS IT ABOUT A PARTICULAR FOLK SONG THAT WRAPS AROUND YOUR BONES-CLAIMS YOU? IN THINKING OF SOME OF THE SONGS THAT ARE SPECIAL TO ME, I FOUND THAT IT WASN'T THE ARTIST WHO SINGS IT, THE ARRANGEMENT AND SUCH, BUT THE PURE SONG ITSELF- FROM TRADITIONAL, THROUGH THE MUSIC'S HISTORY UNTIL TODAY. OH SURE, THE ENDLESS DEBATE AS TO WHAT A "REAL" FOLK SONG IS, WILL ALWAYS BE AN ONGOING ARGUMENT AS THE MUSIC SPREADS IT'S BRANCHES, BUT LET'S NOT GET TWISTED UP IN THAT HERE. MAYBE IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE STORY, BECAUSE A SONG, IS A STORY...WITH MUSIC, AS WHEELS TO CARRY IT. IT'S NOT THE MOST IMMPRESIVE GUITAR LICKS OR VOICE. SOME SONGS BENEFIT FROM A GREAT VOICE AND ARRANGEMENT-AND SOME SONGS ARE CRUSHED.

SO-I'M WONDERING WHAT ABOUT A SONG MAKES IT SPECIAL TO US? I'M THINKING RIGHT NOW OF A FAVORITE OF MINE: "STEWBALL", A SONG ABOUT A HORSE, AND JUST PERFECT WITH THREE CHORDS. AND "WALKING IN MEMPHIS", THE lONESTAR VERSION. "SPANISH IS THE LOVING TONGUE" AND "THE LIGHTHOUSE TALE", NICKLE CREEK. GREAT STORIES ABOUT THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOURS?