“The Death of Queen Jane” and its historical contexts Introduction – Investigating “The Death of Queen Jane” For a long time, “The Death of Queen Jane” has been considered a folk song that takes artistic liberties with the historic event of the birth of Edward VI to Jane Seymour in 1537. But is it possible … Read More
Long Lankin, the bogeyman of the Child Ballads Introduction – The History of Long Lankin Long Lankin is the bogeyman of the Child Ballads. A mysterious figure who lives in the moss (or the gorse, or the hay), he is known as a bloodthirsty murderer. But what’s the full story? The story has a lot … Read More
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 … Read More