I don't think being traditional is "traditional" as some have pointed out earlier here. I think it's important to know where the music in the folk revival comes from and decide for oneself if the newer songs fit in that tradition or not. As an english major in college I had a fondness for a good story. As a music enthusiast, who spend more time playing guitar than studying, when I first heard ballads sung rather than recited (remember the bad Caedmon recordings of someone reciting Lord Randall?)it was a revelation. I really don't care if a song is old or new, if it hits me in the guts and says "learn me" I do. While sometimes too much energy is expended on talking about sources or musical purity, I think we need to keep track of where the music came from. Oh yeah, great points made earlier! See no points of disagreement.