"And of course the UK has a living tradition, "
Where?
"You can't write folk songs any more than you can write hit songs "
You can't "write a folk song - you can write a song that eventually becomes a folk song
Folk songs become such via a process
"there must be a time when that 'living tradition' ceased, and therefore any song written after that time is not a 'folk' song"
Why?
Still don't get your point about Bellamy - he sang folk songs - he didn't make them
Please point out where I have misunderstood you if I am - certainly not trying to avoid answering you.
Jim Carroll