I don't disagree that for many types of folk music the lyrics are very important. I was just pointing out that for some kinds of folk music, they aren't as important -- I think of stringband music as a kind of folk music, and so is blues and many kinds of international music or world music.

I'm saying that as a songwriter to whom the lyrics of my songs are VERY important, believe me. And there's nothing more frustrating than trying to listen to music where you are meant to focus on the lyrics and you can't hear them, so I'm in total agreeement with all that.

I was just pointing out that not all forms of folk music are so heavily dependent on lyrics.