Back in the 60's, when it looked like folk music was going to rule the air for years to come, and a whole wealth of older recordings were being reissued, there were certain songs that it seemed that everyone knew (and most sang.) If you mentioned The Cuckoo, everyone knew that you were talking about Clarence Ashley's recording. John Henry's Hammer as recorded by Mississippi John Hurt was another. Or, what about The House Carpenter? There was a real feeling of community, just because there were so many shared songs that they were almost like a secret password. When you knock on the door, just say Omie Wise and we'll let you in.

Fast forward to the present, and so many of those recordings and songs have slipped back into obscurity. Because there are a lot of us old fogies in here, See That My Grave Is Kept Clean may elicit a few cyber-knowing-nods-of-the head, but go into a folk club or coffee house and not many people will know what you're talking about.

Maybe it's time that we rediscover some of the those songs that everybody knows. Anybody got any unheard of well-known songs that you still love?

And can you tell me where Larrawhooper, Tennessee is?

Jerry