The Mole Catcher's Apprentice, on Feb. 14, said:

"how do we explain to future generations why no folksongs were created in the 20th century?"

by the 1954 definition.etc..etc there were none written"

But even using the 1954 definition, there were many folk songs written in the 20th century. Consider these:

"Kumbaya"
"I Have Decided to Follow Jesus"
"God Is So Good"
"I'm Happy Today"
"Love, Love"
"I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy"
"Deep and Wide"
"The B-I-B-L-E"
"The Wise Man Built his House upon the Rock"
"I'm in the Lord's Army"
"If You're Happy and You Know It"
"Miss Lucy Had a Baby"
"O Mary Mack"
"Great Big Gobs of Greasy, Grimy, Gopher Guts"
"Bringing Home My Baby Bumblebee"

All of the above are, I believe, products of the 20th century and all are products "of a musical tradition that has been evolved through the process of oral transmission." All are characterized by
"(i) continuity which links the present with the past; (ii) variation which springs from the creative impulse of the individual or the group; and (iii) selection by the community, which determines the form or forms in which the music survives." All have been "absorbed into the unwritten living tradition of a community."

I am not an expert, yet I've listed 15 songs from my personal tradition that are from the 20th century and fit the 1954 definition. What songs can others add?

Kent