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 →
We sadly note the passing of Doug Dillard: Founding member of the Dillards, a bluegrass band that made headway for the country folk/rock genre. The Dillards were also well-known for their recurring role the Darlings, a gritty and fun bluegrass … Continue reading →
Study for âThere Were Three Maidens Puâd Flowerâ by Charles H. Mackie Death Before Dishonor?The themes in âBabylonâ pointed me back to reviewing Patâs excellent series of posts on âEdward,â (Child 13), particularly this one, which is a careful, reluctant, … Continue reading →
51st Annual Philadelphia Folk Festival August 17-19, 2012 Upper Salford Township (near Schwenksville), PA PHILADELPHIA â Itâs hard to imagine the summer without the PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL. This beloved event is the longest continuously-running outdoor musical festival of its kind … Continue reading →
Thereby Hangs a (Folk) Tale In the last post, I suggested that there seemed to be a certain implausible, or perhaps contrived, quality, to the narrative of  âBabylon,â âThe Bonnie Banks oâ Fordie,â or âFair Flowers of the Valley,â … Continue reading →
âThe Bonnie Banks OâFordie,â by Charles Hodge Mackie (1892) Fair Flowers of the Valley While itâs not exactly our intention to ring the changes on the varieties of family-based murder ballads, weâll turn this week to Child Ballad 14, âBabylonâ … 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 →
Rorey Carroll Part Two of Murder Ballad Mondayâs Interview with Rorey Carroll Read Part One of the interview here. Read about the song, âHead Hung,â here. Â MBM:Â If you donât mind me asking about this, your brother died tragically … Continue reading →
Rorey Carroll ââŚitâs such a powerful thing to take someoneâs life.  Itâs one of the most powerful things, and itâs something that anyone could do.  I think people are fascinated with death and murder for the fascination with their own darkness.â Part One … Continue reading →
