Introduction: The Unfortunate Lad and Other Members of Roud 2 The Anglo-Irish ballad “The Unfortunate Lad,” the cowboy classic “Streets of Laredo,” and the blues song “St. James of Infirmary” are often considered different versions of the same song. But it’s possible that this categorization was influenced by careless and dubious scholarship. In addition to … Read More
Discovering the origins of “Who Killed Cock Robin” Introduction – Exploring “Who Killed Cock Robin” Who Killed Cock Robin? It was I, said the Sparrow. But where did the song come from? And what does it mean? Explore a world of birds, nursery rhymes, mythology, and history in this month’s episode. Find out how the … 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