Let’s hear it for the tradition of folk music.

Folk music, in the beginning, was the continuation of traditional songs and stories through a genre of music. Think 19th century Odyssey or Ramayana. This type of music sought to preserve tradition, not destroy it with innovation. Folk music is about the appreciation of the past for what it was and never forgetting that.

Let’s hear it for the beauty of folk music.

Folk music takes on many different forms. Although contemporary definition may put folk music into a box of wailing songs with an acoustic guitar, it is much more varied than that. That is because folk music is the song of the people. It is defined more by the continuation of an oral tradition or message than by a musical style. Folk music is the preservation of slave work songs.

Let’s hear it for tales of suffering told through folk music.

Artists like Woody Guthrie are able to embody and express the suffering that is often characteristic of folk music. Although Guthrie may best be known for songs such as “This Land is Your Land,” his repertoire goes much deeper than such delightful, upbeat ballads. Woody told the unsung stories of the downtrodden during the 1930s. For example, he spent a period of his life following migrant workers fleeing the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma in search of work in California. He wrote songs about the struggle of farmers during this time with titles such as “Dust Bowl Blues” “I Ain’t Got No Home,” and “Dust Pneumonia Blues,” to name a few. The struggle of joblessness, prejudice, hunger, persecution by police and migration can be found and felt in Guthrie’s lyrics and delivery.

Let’s hear it for the revealing nature of folk music.

When a folk musician doesn’t like something about society, they sing about it. Marvina Reynolds was frustrated with the overwhelming sameness of suburbia and suburban sprawl. From this frustration came a song called “Little Boxes” which is about little houses that looked the same, only different colored. It also poked fun at the “American Dream” to go to university, get a nice job, have kids, send them to summer camp and then send them to university. And repeat. And repeat. And repeat.

Let’s hear it for the protest songs of folk music.

Songs like “Hurricane,” by Bob Dylan. This protest song was about a boxer named Rubin “Hurricane” Carter from the ’60s who was arrested, falsely tried and convicted of murder. Dylan’s song profiles the racism and unjust nature of the police forces involved in Carter’s arrest and the corrupt legal system that convicted him.

Let’s hear it for the power of folk music.

It is through the power of folk music that many social changes can be made possible. Folk musicians often choose to write original songs or perform traditional songs for educational and political goals.

Folk music is also used as a form of social commentary. While they were in no way the most important actors in such movements as the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and ’60s, many folk musicians wrote songs in support, or participated quite actively.

Let’s hear it for the endurance and adaptability of folk music.

Unlike many other genres of music, folk music never died. It has gone through a bit of a sinusoidal curve, with multiple revivals of folk music throughout the twentieth century. Not only that, but folk music has laid the foundation for other genres of music such as country music and bluegrass.

Let’s hope folk music grows in Norman.

Norman is a town with so much transformational potential. Music plays an integral part in the lives of a majority of Norman residents. One of the most radical events at recently was probably an occupation of the South Oval organized by some students on last week. While the message behind the protest was something to be admired, there were no more than 25 students “occupying” at one time. Numbers aren’t everything but the numbers could be so much bigger. Folk music could do something to change this. We need musicians writing protest songs. The fuel for transformation is here. Residents of Norman care about countless causes and love music. We need the fire of folk music to help destroy the apathy.