This is a list-style feature highlighting three folk songs released in 1978 that the author argues deserve close study for their songwriting craft. The piece focuses on how each track uses simple, direct language to convey complex emotional and philosophical ideas, holding them up as models for anyone learning to write folk music.

– "Fish and Whistle" by John Prine – praised for blending humour and pathos while surveying everyday life, with Prine's ambivalent, forgiving tone exemplified in its chorus.
– "Comes a Time" by Neil Young – explores life's natural cycles and the passage of time, offering reassurance about keeping pace with an ever-changing world.
– A second, unnamed Neil Young song on the list – a nostalgic, dream-like reflection on the past, cited as a lesson in writing about familiar themes with a fresh perspective.