S. Gee co-founded Murder Ballad Monday in 2012.
In a way, this entire blog serves as an attempt to answer to the question: Why? Why do people commit murder, and why do we write, sing, and listen to songs about those murders? So far, weâve spilled a lot … Continue reading →
 In the last post on Led Zeppelin’s “Gallows Pole,” we looked at how a centuries-old English tale about a fair maiden who loses a golden ball evolved into two different stories â one with a fairy tale ending in which … Continue reading →
My chosen song this week has as its origins an English fairy tale about a girl who loses a nice toy and is punished for it. It is a tale that grew in at least two major branches. Along one … Continue reading →
 What I like most about “Frank’s Wild Years,” is what a clever little liar it is and how — like all clever little liars — its lies reveal so many larger truths. Truths not just about this couple, Frank … Continue reading →
 Look into the eyes of this attractive and rather worried looking young woman. What sad story do you see? What tale of despair and dreams gone bad? What demons? What lost angels?  What, you don’t see any of … Continue reading →
Look at the eyes of this cute and rather worried looking chihuahua. What sad story do you see? What tale of despair and dreams gone bad? What demons? What lost angels? If you don’t already know from the title of … Continue reading →
As we saw earlier in the week, thereâs great controversy about âPowderfingerâ and what story it is trying to tell us. What always gets to me about this song are the two things that I know it’s about for sure. … Continue reading →
As I mentioned in my first post, there’s no small controversy over what, exactly, âPowderfingerâ is about. Aided by the abundance of specific details in the lyrics, especially about that boat, almost all interpretations nod to Youngâs political sensibilities in … Continue reading →
Neil Young This week we take a look at âPowderfinger,â the classic Neil Young song. Although itâs been discussed ad nauseam by die-hard Young fans and is the subject of no small controversy among them (weâll get to that in … Continue reading →
In between âFurnace Room Lullabyâ and âDeep Red Bells,â Neko Case released her second original murder ballad, âMake Your Bed.â The song appeared on Canadian Amp, an EP featuringa few covers, one traditional folk song, and two originals. âMake Your … Continue reading →
