Just to emphasise the point:
Cecil J Sharp in 1919 wrote:
"It may be thought that, owing to the late hour at which the interest in our folk music came to be aroused, it is but a shrunken harvest that has been garnered. But I do not think this is so. That the postponement has added very materially to the difficulties of the collector- by compelling him, for instance, to take downhis songs from aged and quavering throats instead of from young, fresh-voiced singers- is of course true enough..."
Look, nearly a century ago the folk singer was a dying breed. If it's lasted this long on its last legs, it looks like its last legs are invincible!!!
Now I'm off to Oxford to see John S and Jon B (and Jon B's brother, Tom B) squeezing and scrapin their stuff!!!
Wahey!