Jag

If nobody had changed any songs before the revival, then, it seems, a whole amateur 'industry' and some professional careers might never have existed. Where would Child had been in this case?

'Matter': I'm developing a 'thing' about being specific, so I wonder 'matter' in what respect, and 'matter' to whom, and when?

If I'm reading a book purporting to be a 'factual' history on a subject, then I don't want it to be written by somebody who had themselves produced the written materials put forward as examples of this history, and who then expounded upon their wonderful expressiveness as evidence of some past skill.

If I was thinking about the relationship between words and music in songs from the past, then I wouldn't want to be looking at versions of lyrics which somebody has 'tinkered with' to fit with their own conception of how lyrics and musical meter should interact.

I have been criticised for changing lyrics on the basis that it is 'disrespectful' to the originals. But my view is that using them at all implies respect, ie that I have found something in the piece that for some reason pleases me and that I want to use.

{Has anybody made the 'It's folk, Jim, but not as we know it!' joke yet?}