Introduction â âStill Growingâ Todayâs featured song fits clearly, if not neatly, into our wheelhouse here at MBM. Â It is not precisely a murder ballad. Â Neither is it exactly what we call a âconversation with death.â It is, like many … Continue reading →
Introduction We here at Murder Ballad Monday are soon fixing to close our second year of writing about our topic of choice! Â Donât worry; we have a few more weeks to go before we get to our holiday hiatus, and … Continue reading →
The Sinking of the âCumberlandâ by the Ironclad âMerrimacâ, off Newport News Va. March 8th 1862 â Currier and Ives, 1862 Introduction This week we return once again to the American Civil War for some music that might make the … Continue reading →
Unidentified girl in mourning dress holding framed photograph of her father as a cavalryman with sword and Hardee hat â tintype, ca. 1870, Library of Congress IntroductionEvery spring I teach a unit on the American Civil War, after which my colleagues and … 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 →
Found Drowned â George Frederick Watts, 1867 All right folks.  I promised after five separate posts over six months concerning the ballad âTwo Sistersâ (aka Child 10, aka Roud 8, akaâŚ) that this time Iâd have something meaningful to say … Continue reading →
Before the Battle aka Lady Affixing a Pennant to a Knightâs Spear â Elizabeth Eleanor Siddal, 1858 We started this week on Memorial Day with a great ballad from the Civil War that works in some ways like a murder … Continue reading →
Another year has come and gone. Iâm beginning to set my calendar to coincide with the Old Songs Festival. The event has become my annual booster shot that reminds of why âfolkâ music is so important â the festival displays … Continue reading →
