I'm currently reading, "Thomas The Rhymer" (E. Kushner) and an anthology, "Ballad Tales" modern retellings of trad ballads. These have whetted my interest in these tales. Suggestions for print editions of ballads and stories?

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A moment of carelessness, a lifetime of regret.
A lifetime of carelessness, a moment of regret.

Not exactly what you're looking for, but Morgan Llywellyn writes novels of Irish legends, some of which have ballads based on them. Bard was one; she's written a few about Brian Boru; O'Sullivan's March isn't a ballad, but it is a traditional tune (a 6/8 march).

I read another book based on a ballad around the same time I read Thomas the Rhymer and Bard, but I can't call it up right now. Actually, I just came up with it, it's TAm Lin by Pamela Dean.

Neither Rhymer nor Tam Lin spoke to me that well. I liked the Morgan Llywellyn books (I only read two or three) better. But in the same spirit, you might want to check out Lord Dunsany. The King of Elfland's Daughter was very much in the spirit of the elfin ballads, and a very well put together book. I can't think of a folk song like The Charwoman's Shadow, but it's a really wonderful book, too.

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Charlie
Whorfin Woods
Cthulhu 2020: NO lives matter

I had Dean's "Tam Lin" and found it unbearable. Llewellyn I've heard of but not read.

Like the HPL reference.

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A moment of carelessness, a lifetime of regret.
A lifetime of carelessness, a moment of regret.