Amen to that, brother. The thing is that now the so-called "purests" have developed new names for it. "Old Time Music" for instance. It is quite nearly rampant around here in Central Virginia. My favorite quote regarding that came from an old codger who remarked "They call it 'Old Time Music' nowadays. When I was growing up they just called it "music".

I think the Mudcatters are certain evidence that folk is still alive. I, for one, have played and sung little else in the past forty years and have never lacked for an attentive audience. PP&M's popularity with yet another generation of kids is further proof.

The local PBS radio station has an annual fundraiser during which they dredge up an incredible array of folk music. The local townspeople really get charged up by it and talk about it for days. The PBS station reports heavy donations when they are playing the folk music show.

As trite as such songs may be to some of us, I challenge you to sit anywhere near a campfire with any more than four other people without someone trying to start up "Michael rowed..." or "Cumbaya" or "Eddystone Light" or somesuch song.

Perhaps during the Writer's Work Project of the '30's and the big folk revival of the early '60's most of the really good stuff was uncovered. Maybe the romance is gone for some because they feel that there are no "new" folksongs. Truth is, though, that there are! Many of the less scholarly singers would name "Don't Fence Me In" and possibly, "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" as folk music. Maybe they are right in a way. Who's to say now how many times a song must be sung to be classified as "folk"? Yes, we tend to write them down these days; but do they really have to be unwritten to be officially folk? I am sure there are people who would argue that "California Dreaming" is a folksong. All I know is that it is no less a part of the music of my soul than any of the "Child's" collection. And to me that is all that matters.