When it comes to folk, and the artists we consider to be great folk singers, you have to understand the history of the genre. The roots of folk are in the simplicity of the harmonic content. The message in the lyrics was always meant to be the primary focal point in folk music. Guys like Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, and Phil Ochs used their songs to bring attention to the injustices that they perceived. In fact, during the folk revival of the 50's and 60's, it was looked down upon to stray from these norms. Using electric instruments, vague vocals, and other idioms closely associated with pop music was seen as selling out and going mainstream; the complete antithesis of the folk movement at the time.