not sure who MTed was responding to.....

and toadfrog..."I can't think of even a single reason to say it is any more a "folk song" than (say) "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"......but I can think of reasons...*grin*

you, (toadfrog) are actually on the right track..'simplicity' is one trait...not necessarily an essential one, but a common one...now, as to the other 27 traits...*smile*