Introduction: “It’s the butcher boy I love so well …” The title of today’s song suggests a narrative consistent with the stereotype of violent misogyny in our genre of choice. Strictly speaking, this time that could lead to some inaccurate … Continue reading →
Natalie Merchant “I kept on positing that [folk music] is any music that serves the people and describes the culture” Natalie Merchant on NPR’s American Routes, November 7, 2003 Introduction I wrote in the previous post on “Crazy Man Michael” … Continue reading →
Elvis Presley, 1970 In considering Chris Smither’s song “Every Mother’s Son” in preparation for this week’s first post, I kept being drawn to the contrast between it and Elvis Presley’s blockbuster “In the Ghetto.” The two songs appeared within three … Continue reading →
(Note this introduction is Part 1 of our four part series on this ballad. Part 2 takes us to England, Part 3 to Ireland, and Part 4 back to Appalachia.) Here at Murder Ballad Monday we hope every week to … Continue reading →
