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2026 Update
As I was updating this post, which was first published in 2011, I realized just how much things have changed. I admit that I unfortunately lost track of Ron Hynes’ music over the years. Sadly, Ron passed away in 2015, making Stealing Genius his final studio album. Additionally, while No Depression still exists as a website, the community platform I knew back then is gone. Upon discovering Ron’s passing, I feel a strong pull to go back, revisit his earlier albums, and write some posts to help keep his memory and incredible music alive!
The Road to Ron Hynes
The other day on the No Depression website, someone raised the question, “What is Folk Music?” Well, that question has been floating around inside my head for the last several days. While I don’t have any definitive, academic answers, here is my personal take on it.
What is Folk Music?
I guess when I think of “pure” folk music, I think about artists who performed older, traditional songs—legends like Pete Seeger and The Weavers, Jean Ritchie, Elizabeth Cotten, Woody Guthrie, and “Doc” Watson.
But in the 60s, after the rise of popular “folk” groups like The Kingston Trio, The Chad Mitchell Trio, and The Limeliters, the genre took a swing to the left and turned a bit inward as a new wave of musicians arrived on the scene.
This group was led by Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Phil Ochs, singing side by side with artists like Tom Rush, Tom Paxton, Eric Andersen, Jerry Jeff Walker, Paul Seibel, Dave Van Ronk, Fred Neil, and many others.
These were the folks who shaped my “Folk” world, and their music was my personal “Folk University.”
Just a man or woman with a guitar, commenting on the human condition. Many times they were political comments, particularly with Ochs and Paxton, but often they were deeply touching songs—moving melodies with real “heart” and “feeling” that made you stop and think. Songs like Tom Paxton’s “Cindy’s Crying,” Paul Seibel’s “Louise,” Fred Neil’s “The Dolphins,” Tom Rapp’s “Rocket Man,” or Ochs’ “Flower Lady.”
The way I like to refer to this music is that it’s “Folk’s Music”—music by folks and about folks! To me, there is nothing better than a good story song about everyday people, like Harry Chapin’s “Mr. Tanner” or Jerry Jeff’s “Stoney.”
Discovering Ron Hynes
Now, all of this is leading up to the artist I’ve been listening to for the last couple of days: Ron Hynes and his album Stealing Genius. Ron Hynes was a legendary Canadian folksinger hailing from Newfoundland, and he spent over 30 years writing brilliant folk songs. One of them, “Sonny’s Dream,” has been recorded worldwide by countless artists and was even named the 41st greatest Canadian song of all time! And to think, I had only just heard of him back when I wrote this (once again, my bad!). But like they say, “better late than never!”
I won’t bore you with a dry biography and a list of accomplishments, but it’s worth noting just how deeply respected his songwriting is. His songs have been covered by dozens of artists worldwide, including Emmylou Harris, Christy Moore, Mary Black, Denny Doherty, Murray McLauchlan, Valdy, John McDermott, Terry Kelly, Prairie Oyster, The Good Brothers, Shaye, The Cottars, and Hayley Westenra.
About – Stealing Genius
Stealing Genius is a collection of fourteen beautifully crafted songs. Reading the liner notes, you can see that Hynes took his craft incredibly seriously, giving each track a lot of thought and care. He often based his songs on the works of other creators he admired (ah, maybe that’s where the title Stealing Genius comes from!). In this way, his approach reminded me a lot of Tom Russell.
While all of the tracks are great, I do have my immediate favorites. They include “My Father’s Ghost,” a touching story about the loss of a father at sea, and “Judgment,” a song about Robert Ford and the shooting of Jesse James.
I guess if I hadn’t known he was Canadian beforehand, I certainly would have after hearing “Sawchuk”—his brilliant song about the legendary hockey goalie Terry Sawchuk.
Sandwiched in between these standout tracks are beautiful songs about life, love, and the sting of loss. If you are like me and have some catching up to do when it comes to Ron Hynes, I highly encourage you to go find his music on your favorite streaming platforms or track down a physical copy on Amazon. I know I still have a lot of his older catalog left to check out!
Links and Listens
Links for Further Explorations
The Video
Here’s Ron with a live performance of “House” from Stealing Genius: