daddy, teacher, blogger, amateur picker, singer, poet; co-founder of Murder Ballad Monday with roots in the upper south, happily transplanted to Vermont.
This is Part 1 of a three part series.  See also Part 2, and Part 3. Introduction â âTwas on the high, high holy dayâŚâ This week we go back to Britain, to the old ballads.  Yes, itâs one of … Continue reading →
Ok, letâs bring this one on home. In the introductory post for the week, we learned that Child 10, the ballad commonly known as âTwo Sistersâ, is in fact quite old, with Scandinavian roots stretching back perhaps a thousand years. … Continue reading →
When I was linking the lyrics for Clannadâs version of âTwo Sistersâ for this weekâs main post, I was stumped when I saw the refrain on several sites listed as âthe boys are born for meâ. Iâd always heard it … Continue reading →
âGirl by Streamâ Charles Van Shaick ca. 1880 This week finds us in new waters â sibling rivalry. Ok, ok, I know. One thing to love about murder ballads is that we canât dismiss the violence with simple explanations or … Continue reading →
View From Max Patch, North Carolina â by Jeff Pitman  (Prints available here) âKenâs post about Omieâs surviving children gave rise to something in me that popped out as this little poem. Nothing about what they must have gone through made … Continue reading →
