It ain't a folk song, Buddy, unless it's old and gray,
It ain't a folk song, Buddy, unless it's old and gray.
Well I don't know what to call em
But I write em anyway.

It ain't a folk song, Buddy, unless it's found somewhere,
It ain't a folk song, Buddy, unless it's found somewhere.
Well I found these songs
Right under my head of hair.

Well I am old but my songs are new,
And I don't care what you call em,
Just sing em,
That's all I ask of you.

It ain't a folk song, Buddy, unless it's traveled far,
It ain't a folk song, Buddy, unless it's traveled far.
Well my songs are traveling,
I don't know where they are.

They call me a folk singer, but I don't give a damn.
When I start to sing, you don't care what I am,
You sing em,
That's all I ask of you.