Alan Lomax envisioned his collected fieldwork culminating into an amalgam of traditions, a sort of “global jukebox” available to the masses to learn from and enjoy. Finally, Lomax’s vision is palpable, thanks to technological advancements in online archiving. Today, what … Continue reading →
We’ll start today’s posts with some news accounts, to begin thinking about whether and how the facts matter to the song, and how the facts leave their traces, often in indirect ways, in the songs. For the moment at least, … Continue reading →
The LA-based GRAMMY Museum, in conjunction with Woody Guthrie Publications, Inc. and the Woody Guthrie Archives, has announced details about their plans to commemorate the life and career of Oklahoma folk music legend Woody Guthrie in Tulsa. Designed to celebrate … Continue reading →
The Frankie and Johnny mural in the House Lounge at the Missouri State Capitol “Frankie and Johnny” or “Frankie and Albert” is the most popular and commercially successful murder ballad. I can’t think of a song that really comes remotely … Continue reading →
Ok, let’s bring this one on home. In the introductory post for the week, we learned that Child 10, the ballad commonly known as “Two Sisters“, is in fact quite old, with Scandinavian roots stretching back perhaps a thousand years. … Continue reading →
When I was linking the lyrics for Clannad’s version of “Two Sisters” for this week’s main post, I was stumped when I saw the refrain on several sites listed as “the boys are born for me”. I’d always heard it … Continue reading →
“Girl by Stream” Charles Van Shaick ca. 1880 This week finds us in new waters – sibling rivalry. Ok, ok, I know. One thing to love about murder ballads is that we can’t dismiss the violence with simple explanations or … Continue reading →
This week’s installment focuses on another American contribution to the genre, in the sense that “Henry Lee,” or “Love Henry,” is an Americanized take on an old ballad called “Young Hunting” (Child Ballad No. 68). The ballad tells … Continue reading →
View From Max Patch, North Carolina – by Jeff Pitman (Prints available here) Ken’s post about Omie’s 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 →
