There has been serious long-term academic study into reincarnation at an american university(where else!) - maybe the University of Virginia,I cant remember, but I have read the book by Prof Ian Stevenson called "Twenty Cases Suggestive Of Reincarnation".This is fascinating and VERY persuasive.Most of the case studies are in India, but a couple come from the west.Stevenson,being an academic,knows you cant count personal memories and introspection as evidence so he does interviews in the field with witnesses.Some of the results are uncanny and unforgettable.
However, I remain sceptical.
I do like the idea of someone coming up with a hitherto unknown version of a trad song.How confident are we that we could spot a fakesong though? Almost everything you hear in a folk club these days is non-traditional, but trying to sound as if it is.