all shadow and no substance.

That's folk in a nutshell; rather like Death in Duncan Williamson's story (in which he appears to elaborate on a Scandinavian original) whereby havoc is wreaked in a world where things no longer die. Ultimately however, shadows are best; because shadows are all we've got, like those on the wall of Plato's Cave; shadows implying substance, or permanence, all of which might run contrary to the transient nature of all existence in which all things change regardless, unless they're stuffed up inside of nuts of course, which is a nice womb-like comfort zone no matter how cramped.

In reality, of course, and by his own admission, Jim's sort of Folk died the death long ago; folk in a nutshell, removed from any sort of human context it might have once had because even the singers found better things to do with their free time once they discovered the delights of modern life. Thankfully there's more to it, and Folk lives on as an essentially creative aesthetic derived from all sorts of musical & cultural associations, including Traditional Song & Music, folklore, hip-hop, free-improv, Flann O'Brien, experimental music, feral, wicca, tribal, jungle, hedgewitch, wildlife, bird song, storytelling, early music, modern classical, gamelan, plain chant, death metal, fog horns, Japanese Sapphic Erotica, dead seals, power stations, 1920's novelty dance bands, The Beano, Albert Richardson, Blackpool Tower, the M6, the A6, Catweazle, Bagpuss, etc. etc. with countless musicians diligently ploughing their own idiosyncratic furrows and making some fascinating noises in the process; best make that the folk process which lives on in other ways too. Even outside the Folk Scene - especially outside the Folk Scene - Folk Music is alive and well and thriving in an abundant transience that would make Maud Karpeles proud.

A very worthy thread indeed, and a joy for the most part despite Jim's ominous clouds gathering of late threatening further judgemental downpour. Fortunately, I have my trusty Gamp at hand!