As we’ve noted all along, our “mission” at Murder Ballad Monday is to explore both the interior and the periphery of the murder ballad. We discuss how music helps interpret intense, often violent and/or deadly experience. Having started out the … Continue reading →
Canadian Soldiers (date unknown) In the song, “Harris and the Mare,” our protagonist reminds Harris that he was a “conshie in the War.” In all the years I have listened to the song, I took that mention merely to be … Continue reading →
With Pancho having met his match in the deserts down in Mexico, this week we turn to the north country, and an Ontario mill town, and a song inspired by a story overheard in a bar. Stan Rogers, penned “Harris … Continue reading →
[Notes: Thanks to Pat for the title. I’m going to add some songs in here that are not murder ballads, but they fire some of the same synapses, and their relevance to the story I tell below should … Continue reading →
June 2 will mark the 25th anniversary of the death of Stan Rogers. Stan died in a tragic plane fire as he was flying home to Canada after performing at the Kerrville Folk Festival. In the 25 years since his … Continue reading →
