Further to the dismissal of Pop song as story. As a lover of fairy tale, folk tale, poetry and mythology, I believe it was specifically the story content which drew me into contemporary music from between around seven years of age (when I discovered the magical fairy tales of Genesis and the rather more 'unexpergated fairy tales' of Alice Cooper) until the present, and the discovery of the same in Folk song about six months ago which drew me here...
While Jim C. might not personally relate to the story content in Pop songs, I believe he must accept the fact that for many, upon many of us (who perhaps are not of his generation?) DO relate strongly to the stories contained in the songs of many excellent contemporary (and arguably 'folk' according to the "non-1954 definition" - any budding theorists fancy drafting this?) lyricists.

Glueman I'll take your Morrissey and raise you a Neil Young 'Southern Man', a Billy Bragg 'Man in the Iron Mask', a Jah Wobble 'A13', a House of Love 'My Love in a Car' and a Beatles 'She's Leaving Home'... ;-)