thanks, Amos, for helping me out there, I sometimes get overwrought about it all,,*grin*

...and Bert, many of your songs DO follow the 'topical song' format, which often leads to folk 'status', if there is such a thing. You write what comes into your head, and as you remember from the Getaway, there are places where no ones inspects their credentials. We sang along happily with you ...but there were 'certain' workshops where the topic sort of excluded them, and I'm sure YOU knew that. But I HAVE seen, on occasion, people TOTALLY ignore a formal topic or change an informal mood, just to get in one more rendition of their own stuff..*sigh*....There are a few ...like Craig Johnson, who has written wonderful stuff that sounds trad from day one, (ask Art Thieme!)...but who would just as soon sing or play a trad song, and while he is flattered to be asked for his own songs, KNOWS how he differs from 'the real thing'.

but, Bert..at least you can and do write..*smile*..I have added a verse or two to a couple of things, but I CANNOT create a tune or write a complete song. I guess that's why I have so much time to explicate and analyze..*wink*