daddy, teacher, blogger, amateur picker, singer, poet; co-founder of Murder Ballad Monday with roots in the upper south, happily transplanted to Vermont.
Sheila Kay Adams is a keeper of songs and stories that stretch back hundreds of years, and an American treasure. Â Most folkies know her name, but if youâre not familiar with her and youâre developing a love for traditional American … Continue reading →
Found Drowned â George Frederick Watts, 1867 All right folks.  I promised after five separate posts over six months concerning the ballad âTwo Sistersâ (aka Child 10, aka Roud 8, akaâŚ) that this time Iâd have something meaningful to say … Continue reading →
detail from Twa Sisters â quilt by Dan Willig So, as I introduced in my first post this week, Iâm trying to add some depth and variety to my first series of entries from six months ago on the ballad known as Child … Continue reading →
detail from Twa Sisters â quilt by Dan Willig Six months ago, my first post for this blog dealt with the ancient murder ballad âTwo Sistersâ, also known as âWind and Rainâ as well as several other names.  Iâm happy with the … Continue reading →
Before the Battle aka Lady Affixing a Pennant to a Knightâs Spear â Elizabeth Eleanor Siddal, 1858 We started this week on Memorial Day with a great ballad from the Civil War that works in some ways like a murder … Continue reading →
The Veteran in a New Field â Winslow Homer, 1865 I mentioned in my last week of posts that Iâm preparing to take my 8th grade students to Gettysburg, and that all things Civil War occupy my mind this time … Continue reading →
Introduction My first post this week introduced âHiram Hubbardâ, a Kentucky murder ballad from the era of the Civil War. Â The performance of Jean Ritchie and Doc Watson was our springboard. Â For the sake of avoiding multiple clicks across posts, … Continue reading →
âCome all you friends and neighborsâŚâ Every spring, as I finish teaching my unit on the American Civil War, my thoughts turn towards that most terrible of American experiences. Me being who I am always makes that rather intense.  This … Continue reading →
 Note: This is Part 4 of a 4 part series â see also Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. My good friend and co-writer for this blog is visiting here this weekend, and heâs just gone off to bed, so … Continue reading →
Note: This is Part 3 of a 4 part series â see also Part 1, Part 2, and Part 4 This weekâs first post introduced us to the ballad âEdwardâ in Ireland and America. Â My second post this week introduced … Continue reading →
