Hey, Harv:

Music is for all kinds of experiences... even songs. Songs aren't just about lyrics. Or messages. Folk songs are about words, stories and messages. But, not even all folk music... sometimes lyrics are just silly or fun... which I know you know. But music is also for dancing, and I'm not just talking about contra dancing or morris dancing. For people who like to dance to music, the words aren't the primary interest... it's the sound and the rhythm. Nobody listened to Wooly Bully or Louie, Louie to hear the words, or get the message. These days, the beat drives everything, and having three left feet, it doesn't get me up on the dance floor. That's true not only in pop music and country, but in gospel. Everything now seems to be mass choirs and multiple synthesizers, drums and guitars. I don't like that kind of gospel.   The key word in that last sentence is "I." Why can't everybody be like me? Dang!

For me, there's room for all kinds of music, including music I don't like that does nothing for me. That makes room for folk music, which the general public finds uninteresting, and jazz which is just about as unpopular as folk music. Loving folk music and jazz, which have such a limited appeal to the general public wasn't enough for me. I've fallen in love with old black gospel quartet music, which is equally limited in appeal. Maybe it's something about us folkies.

Last year, my quartet opened for the Dixie Hummingbirds... a fine, nationally know black gospel group celebrating their 74th Anniversary!
It was well publicized in the black community and churches and the promoter rented a large auditorium. The concert drew about 50 people.
A lousy, loud rap group would have filled the place. So be it. Music speaks to people. Folk music speaks to a little circle of friends. Rap and hip hop speaks to millions. At least people are getting up off their duffs and dancing now... certainly there are at least as many people on the floor dancing as there were in the 40's with the big bands.

If folkies bemoan the lack of appreciation for folk music, lighten up. You could be a poet. :-)

Jerry