The theme of protesting human misconduct -- especially by governments and power groups-- has been a common one in folk music since "London Bridge" was written -- and those who, conversely, spend their days pursuing power and gain at the expense of others do not usually have the sensibility to be musicians, or the time to sing folk music. So the two threads are natural kissing cousins. Sure there are lots of other themes in folk music -- love, bad guys, adventures with drink, being broke, and war come to mind. But protesting the inequalities of life has always been among them.

Perhaps historically there is also a class distinction between those who could use other media -- such as parchment and quill -- compared to those who could only use their natiral talent for song, being not educated in literary arts.

I think the link between folk music and protest is a natural one.

A