'"Then again. Traditional song minus patriarchy = small repertoire, no?"
It would be wouldn't it?
as someone said once

"you cannot reform our forefathers"'

An example: -

"A blacksmith courted me, nine months & better,"
So women are just passive recipients of male courtship are they, you revolting sexist pig? Also, I note with some disgust that the period of courtship is nine months -- a clear allusion to the normal period of gestation, thus reducing women (once again, I might add) to their so-called biological function as childbearers.

"He fairly won my heart, wrote me a letter."
Ah. So now we get to the crux of the matter. Rather than contest gendered norms of employment, you chose to be courted by a male blacksmith. Could you not find any wimmin blacksmiths (or "diversesmiths," as I choose to call them)? Shocking. Truly shocking. And as for your being impressed that he could write you a letter, I suppose this speaks volumes about unequal access to basic education in a patriarchal society.