I just heard a very learned and respected gentleman -- a university professor and an accomplsihed performer -- explain that he prefers the terms "traditional music," "old songs," or "roots" to "folk music." Why? Because, says he, "the public equates folk music with drug crazed hippies playing protest songs." To which I respond with the following composition...


THAT STUFF IS CALLED FOLK MUSIC
Tune:"The Girl I Left Behind Me" (traditional)
Words: Stephen L. Suffet © 2001

Oh, my name is Jack and I smoke crack,
Yeah, I'm a drug crazed hippy,
And I sing songs that tell of wrongs,
From Maine to Mississippi;
I got an old guitar and a beat up car,
I'm big and gross and hairy,
And I delight in causing fright,
'Cause I'm really kind of scary!

Yeah, I sing folk, and that ain't no joke,
'Cause there ain't no better label,
You can be a cad and call it trad,
If you're willing and you're able;
What I sing at hoots, you can call it roots,
From the Truckee to the Hoosick,
But don't be coy around me, boy,
That stuff is called FOLK MUSIC!


Only 782 more songs and I overtake Woody. :-)

---- Steve