So, Bill D.,

Perhaps what you need is to store your basic reply in some Word Processor document that you can convert to a thread post when this topic comes up again. And it will come up again. Then you could really take some time and maybe do all three pages, see? And then you could just whip it out (oops, bad choice of words) whenever necessary.

I suppose I am just enough of an old codger to appreciate your "old codger"ness. But I wouldn't want you to wear your fingers to the nubs whenever this discussion comes up.

I sure do like "folk music", but I do sometimes wonder what it is. I cut my teeth on Kingston Trio, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Chad Mitchell Trio, and all of their ilk during the "folk scare" in the sixties. I remember people saying these performers weren't "ethnic" enough. I thought that mean't they weren't doing Pete Seeger's version of songs.

Now, as I expand my horizons, I find that these "folk" were ripping off performers from the Harry Smith Anthologies and places like that.

I volunteer at the "Folkal Point" and hardly a "traditional" artist passes through. I sing and play whatever I like and call myself "An Entertainer in the Folk Tradition". I think that means that most of the introductions are longer than the songs. Yep, I am one confused dude.

What I learned in the 60's as folk music was really just folk-based popular music. What I listen to quite a bit now is folk-based contemporary acoustic music. Most of these performers write their own songs. But I also listen to Son House (who wrote his own songs?) and I think of his music as "folk music" in the blues idiom.

I still like the idea of time as a filter to eliminate the good from the bad and to scuff the rough edges in tune and lyric off the song. Audio-recording really ruined this process. It was bad enough when people like Child were writing it down.

Joel, welcome to the Mudcat. It is actually quite a nice place. I don't know if you have been "lurking" on the site for a while. I see you have posted a few times starting a couple of weeks back.

I suspect some of the reaction you have received has been from a certain impetuousness I perceive on your part. If I went to a party where I did not know anyone, I would take some time to get to know them before I decided they might want to hear "my songs". If you spend some time on this site you will find a great deal of knowledge goes along with these "opinions" you have encountered. I have spent a significant portion of the last forty years listening to, learning, and performing something called "folk music". And I am just a puppy compared to others here. A goodly number of Mudcatters have earned their living singing and playing this music.

So, you come off like the brash young upstart with your offer of a tape of your songs. Several people have posted songs they have written when they seemed to fit the discussion on a thread. Because they were in context, they were well accepted.

Again, welcome. When I was in the service the Quartermaster Sergeant kept a stack of 3 X 5 cards on his desk that he would hand out when people made requests that were out of line. On the cards were printed the words, "You must be new!". I suspect Joel, that you must be new also and you just stepped over whatever stands for good manners here. In return, some of us stepped over the welcome mat and may have singed your pride. I suspect all will heal. I hope you accept the apologies offered.

Moonchild,

I have met a few of these folks face-to-face and played a little bit of music with them. Their music interests vary widely. I went to a "Drinking Songs" workshop and ended up singing the jingle for "Ovaltine". It was more than tolerated. Everyone old enough to know the words joined in. Come to the Getaway. You won't regret it.

Roger in Baltimore