"You are simply missing the point, deliberately I think,"
No I am not - I was fully aware of the misuse of the term and if I had any doubts, these arguments would be more than enough to dispel them
The misuse of what the term folk songs is is so diffuse and contradictory that it cannot, as far as I can see, be regarded as a definition.
What are you suggesting - that I agree to accept "opera arias or what ever else floats the boat" as folk song because somebody has decided what they are - how does this fir under your "folk umbrella"?
When this comes with some of the antagonism and open aggression shown towards folk song and the people who gave it to us, I really don't hold out too much hope for the real thing.
Bryan has attempted to put ths down to Muskett and Big Al yet, even without leaving this thread, there is adequate indication that this aggressive takeover is a fact of life in many areas of Britain now.
He says nobody has supported it - nobody has contradicted it - including himself.
His contribution seems to be "everything in the garden's lovely (if you happen to live in Lewes) and I'm "out-of-touch" if I take any of it seriously.
He did have the good grace to admit that I no longer have the right to expect folk song when I go into a 'folk club' and that I should check first.
It appears you need to be 'street-wise' if you wish to find out about folk song on today's scene
We've just been told that the handing back of folk to the music industry is "inevitable"
Even you have used the term "dim and distant past" in relation to a desire for policy clubs.
I've trawled about a little and listened to some of the people who have come up here - loud cacophonous third-rate rock and mid-Atlantic caricature accents seem to be on offer in plenty - thought that went with 'Baby Blue'.
Yes - there are "other usages of the word "folk"" mainly deliberate misuses - no reason why we should accept them, unless we want to, of course
Jim Carroll