Tell you what Pam.....I'll take one if you can find one that says, NON-MILITANT AGNOSTIC: I Don't Know and I Don't Care. You are in our thoughts too.....tough week, super highs-super lows.......Hang in.

This thread has intrigued me all along and I have something that I don't know how to phrase, but I think it plays a part.

Much of the trad music that was passed on from the old country that was modifies in the mountains became the root source for gospel and country music. I think that the pentacostal/evangelical churches that came to be in the southern mountains influenced which secular songs were passed along as well as the hymns. The view of these churches regarding morals and family values became the dominant criterion for "selection" of many songs as well as the cloth of the culture.

In that respect, it is not surprising that many songs putting women second came along. But there was the "frontier backlash" of sorts which also gave women the last laugh even if it came cloaked in kindness. Add to this the fact that almost all of the music was passed on by women. Of course some men were involved with music and instrumental playing was at one point almost totally reserved for men, but the songs and lessons learned in the churches and settlement schools was the province of women almost exclusively. Women often hid their instrumental talent and relied on the voice alone. This resulted in lots of harmonies and high harmonies which we now associate so closely with gospel and bluegrass.

Well.......I'm not phrasing this too well. Maybe I'll try again tomorrow..........

Spaw