O.k. Bill D. I agree, probably that's the most important thing, whether the song comes first, or the singer's ego, or career. Of course it's true that a lot of the old singers performed for crowds. But I still agree with Bronson that quiet singing, among friends or families is the real bedrock of a folk tradition.

No one could possibly sing or otherwise perform songs exactly as they hear them. I was once at a "clinic" where one of the discussion leaders was Bess Hawes, who had been teaching a singing class. One assignement she gave was that everyone should come in and give an exact imitation of a singer they admired. They returned and tried, and no one was able even to guess who it was they were trying to imitate. But, she said, everyone sang a whole lot better than they ever had sung before. A good musician is not only one who is talented or technically proficient, but one who understands the music. That's usually said of classical musicians, but I think it applies to folk singers even more. And it seems to me that understanding music has to come with time, repeated listening, and a respect for the stuff you are singing.