I realize I sort of 'hi-jacked' this thread by introducing my own agenda; for that I apologize. I'll go back to the original thread "CRTC Category of 'Folk or Folk Oriented'" and bring it back at some point.

So let me say something I hope is more relevant to this thread.

It seems to me that any definition really does depend upon it's function.   So "folk" from a collectors need---where a fairly strict definition of folk needs to apply, may be different from a 'folk club' organizer (who may accept any kind of 'acoustic' music), which may be different from somebody who is learning certain songs, etc.

The PRinceton Traditional Music Festival, which I've been to a few times, doesn't even use the word 'folk'......but they are fairly clear about their definition of 'tradtional music', and it doesn't generally include modern folk....yet a couple years ago I heard a traditional group do a great rendition of a Kinks song.

So the question would be, for what purpose are we wanting to define 'folk song'.