Jerry - Why Oh Why do you keep starting these threads that make me THINK !!!

As Jeri said a lot of it is the 'What is Folk' thing and thats a question !!!!

A lovely quote from an 'English Traditional' book I read Years ago made the comment that Tin Pan alley had put a strait jacket on the musical tastes of most people as part of the intro to a song in five four time - Rhythm?? If it aint Four/Four or Three/Four it Aint Right

I know its a whole different ball game over the pond , but here in Yooker land traditionally songs were sung , NOT played and the fiddle etc were for dancing or church music . Its only recently that the idea of accompanied song MIGHT be 'Folk' has been accepted over here , whereas in USA , traditionally , most songs were accompanied ,
which immediately adds an extra dimension to the performance .

And when I say recently , I mean before MY time in folk , which is only forty years ,