Dave Burland called it a folk song not long after it came out, and sang it at clubs and festivals, showing it was living folk, describing a tragic event for posterity. He described what made folk. Geldoff of course, being an Irish pub singer prior to getting into punk.

The other is a nice song about shagging that my dear late friend Wellsie used to sing.

Most songs are copyrighted, you prat. Your hero used to drag tunes and even sections of words into songs that he then copyrighted. Peggy Seeger's new album I just bought is copyrighted..

Are you saying that lack of copyright makes something a folk song??? Ha! Ha!

Bugger off back to Dublin. You obviously haven't heard enough poor versions of Galway Girl drifting out through the pub door...

Anyway, it's academic. Folk is a music genre, recognised as such by millions and journalists are comfortable with the notion when reviewing.

In Acoustic Guitar this month, Peggy Seeger and Jake Bugg are both listed as folk. Neither singing traditional songs. Live with it.