>>One of the issues that has really wound me up in this whole debate about the White Hare is that it seems to undermine the very concept of traditional music. The BBC has ONE award in its whole arsenal that has been specifically created to acknowledge traditional song...and if it will defend the right of a song which is clearly not a traditional song to be nominated in that category, it makes a mockery of the category itself. And if you love traditional music and feel that it has a right to be acknowledged within the BBC Folk Awards, that makes you rather sad. <<

That is where I am too. It annoys me that a song that was essentially written 5 minutes ago (in folk terms) ever got classed as "traditional". I really don't like the idea that if a performer is getting a bit of stick in folk circles for not doing enough trad material that he then decides "Oh I'll write a trad one then". That the guy the BBC has delegated custodianship of the process then colludes in trying to cover-up the subterfuge INCENSES me.

As to the whole tale about hearing the tune somewhere in the past, isn't it strange that either the original writer or interpreter has not come forward yet and cried "foul. Where's my money?". The song has had plenty of air-play. Even if he/she doesn't listen to the radio, I'm sure he/she has friends that do and should have recognised it by now. So why has no one come forward and said "it's mine?"