Interesting to compare the attitudes of the last two posters with those of the people we got our repertoire of folk songs from - it's why some songs became folk and others never shall be.
In the 1970s somebody gathered together and published a book of political songs without asking the writers' permission. I was one of the people who protested at what I considered the editor's bad manners in doing so, but was told by MacColl (the bogey-man of folk song), "It would have been nice to have been asked, but there is no point in writing new songs if to don't want them circulated and sung".
Thanks for a most thoughtful and painstaking contribution Guest T.I.P. - a great deal to think about.
Jim Carroll