Matt R, I still don't understand why you get so upset with the concept that some songs are folk songs and some are not. By all means, write what you want, please yourself. I write songs too, but I don't call them folk songs 'cause they're not.

Murder and disaster may not be everyone's cup of tea but they sure sell a lot of tabloids and movie tickets. I don't think the occasional murder song on the radio would do any lasting harm.