i don't think they will die out. you see they contain valuable stuff. look how Bob Dylan wrote them all anew! musicians and poets will always steal the good bits. the useable bits.

its a bit like these women , who say - you're using me ! you're using me!

its when you start thinking there is some virtue in being useless - that's when it will be in trouble.

even the current crop of approved folkies with their ghastly festival slots and programmes on BBC4, and arts council commissions - at least they use it for their own ends.

folksong has so much intrinsic worth and quality that it won't die out.