The ballad âSir Patrick Spensâ is one of the oldest ballads in western Europe. It tells the story of a king who seeks the best and most experienced sailor in his kingdom for a dangerous and certainly life threatening journey. … Continue reading →
Donibristle House site of Donibristle Castle There is very little left of the original Donibristle Castle, the site of the brutal murder of James Stewart, the 2nd Earl of Moray. There was a major program of rebuilding, and Donibristle House … Continue reading →
This is the second post concerning the ballad Child 4. Â See also Part 1. Introduction In my first post this week, I looked briefly at the history of the ballad Francis Child cataloged as his #4, known by many names; … Continue reading →
This is the first post concerning the ballad Child 4. Â See also Part 2. Introduction I love this image; itâs so evocative! Â What secret does this young gentle lady want her pretty parrot to keep? Well, you know the title … Continue reading →
Becky Poole (photo by Logan Futej) Here is Part One of our interview with the Chicago-based duo, Eileen. Â Today, we meet the duo and dive more deeply into the song âIâll Lay You Down,â which we introduced in the previous … Continue reading →
Tim Eriksen â from his Facebook fan page Our initial post this week took up the first of our two goals; to look more closely at Tim Eriksenâs work and place it in the context of how we experience murder … Continue reading →
Tim Eriksen â hardcore americana This week at Murder Ballad Monday will be a mix of celebration and reflection, with a bit of correction thrown in for balance.Celebration? Quite simply, weâre still here and still finding plenty to write about even after … Continue reading →
[This is the fourth post this week on Child ballad 243, âThe Demon Loverâ or âHouse Carpenter.â  Read the first one here, the second one here, and the third one here.] Our last post took a look at one of the descendants … Continue reading →
[This is the third post on Child ballad 243, âThe Demon Loverâ or âHouse Carpenter.â Â Read the first one here, and the second one here.] âJames Harris,â the demon figure in Child 243, does not represent just any potential lover … Continue reading →
This is the second post on Child 243. Â Read the first post here. The short answer is ânobody.â Â Nobody weeps for the house carpenter. Â In our last post, we saw how artists through the years molded and shaped the original … Continue reading →
