Investigating “The Butcher Boy” and other ballads where characters die for love
Introduction – The Butcher Boy and Other Doomed Lovers
This episode of Folk Files looks at a family of songs where the main character “dies for love.” In particular, I explore “The Butcher Boy,” a song with American, Irish, and English versions. The versions vary drastically: they swap out characters, drop details, and change the reasoning behind the narrator’s decisions. I investigate what effect these changes have on the listener and what lessons we can draw from those effects.
To listen to the full episode, head to the audio player on the homepage or find your preferred podcast platform on the About page!
For more examples throughout history of songs where characters die for love, check out this episode’s Patreon blog. I discuss other examples from the 17th century up through Woody Guthrie. To access the blog through a one-time donation, click here.
Credits
Host: Olivia Harding
Special thanks to: Aaron J. Morton
This episode of Folk Files was recorded on the road. Apologies for any lapses in quality.
Check out more from Pollyanna HERE.
Support Folk Files: https://www.patreon.com/c/FolkFilesPodcast
Musical Excerpts
Alisa Marie
“O’Carolan’s Cup”
https://youtu.be/zrBwqFco0Xs?si=-SdsYnEWGiD5SnFO
Sarah Makem
“The Butcher Boy”
https://youtu.be/x_mtUaBHWCE?si=tBXVy9ELCV9dECgh
Derek and Hazel Sarjeant
“A Sailor Coming Home on Leave”
https://youtu.be/e91Ug-CAjAc?si=sMcd-NpQC-FQmNSL
Music the Gathering
“Johnny Jump Up”
https://www.musicthegathering.com/store/lvl-3-digital-album-esexe
Frank Profitt
“Morning Fair”
https://youtu.be/wdyO1890Zpc?si=1esdsYhrRNWTg7zD
Sam Lee
“Over Yonders Hill”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2jcdbFRRYc
The Kings of Calicutt
“Sheffield Park”
https://youtu.be/o1lDKhJd6Pw?si=XWyn9hQQ3ImN2PRq
Bellowhead
“Cold Blows the Wind”
https://youtu.be/WvuxL8UQiLQ?si=Sdr7Zz7yUVEXi7zg
Jean Ritchie
“Go Dig My Grave”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGrcOqcbzYk
The Clancy Brothers
“The Butcher Boy”
https://youtu.be/WMc8QSxZe_M?si=PIv8GZyRL_1vkSRD
Buell Kazee
“Butcher’s Boy”
https://youtu.be/lwSJoMNRGuI?si=fehdH-zflcTkTbY2
Pollyanna
“Railroad Boy”
https://pollyanna.bandcamp.com/album/man-time-deluxe-edition