Favorite Ballads - Songs that Tell a Story

[boomerang]

An Australian addition(s)
clancy of the overflow
the man from snowy river
the billy of tea
the springtime it brings on the shearing
waltzing matilda
one (or ten) thousand miles away, (same tune different lyrics)
the overlander
brisbane ladies
south Australia
Eubalong Ball
Lachlan tigers
ryebuck shearer
only to name a few of the more popular / well known titles

[jbarter]

I also like

Little Musgrave
Little Fatty Groves
Matty Groves

in that order.

[Walden]

Here's a great resource for those interested in traditional balladry. There are lots of actual field recordings, from the Ozark region, to peruse, as well as transcriptions, and even MIDI files: http://www.lyon.edu/wolfcollection/songs/songs.html

Being actual field data, there is, of course, much here that is from relatively contemporary sources, such as Gospel hymnody, and pop music, but folksong comes from many sources, and does not exist in a vacuum.

[rebl_rn]

Harry Chapin had great story songs, especially "Cat's in the Cradle" and "30,000 Pounds of Bananas".

Steve Goodman's "City of New Orleans".

[dubhlinn]

Steve Goodman's "City of New Orleans".

Arlo Guthrie wrote that one.

Slan,
D.

[rebl_rn]

Steve Goodman's "City of New Orleans".

Arlo Guthrie wrote that one.

Slan,
D.

No, Arlo recorded it, but Steve Goodman wrote it.

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.lasso?id=2878

Beth

[dubhlinn]

I stand corrected.Good one.Glad there was no money riding on that one...

Slan,
D.

[Darwin]

Here's one,

THE MARRIAGE OF KING ARTHUR.

[...]
--Anonymous

Now that is a ballad!

It's almost as long as the shorter old Norse version of The Two Sisters (but not close to the longer one).

For some reason it reminds me a a song Theodore Bikel recorded. I think it started out:

Lochnagar came from the West
....
....
....

And then came young XXX,
Out of the low country
And he has gained her father's heart
And her mother's tae

Lochnagar is supposed to be the Lochinvar of the Sir Walter Scott ballad. Young XXX has her parents' favor, but she loves Lochnagar, who grabs her up at the wedding and rides off with her, with all her kinsmen on their heels.

I can't believe I've forgotten the words, when it's only been a little over 40 years since I last heard it. I still remember the tune, though. It's in Dorian mode, and closely resembles Shady Grove, but more energetic, with a kind of galloping rhythm.

[Darwin]

Here's a great resource for those interested in traditional balladry. There are lots of actual field recordings, from the Ozark region, to peruse, as well as transcriptions, and even MIDI files: http://www.lyon.edu/wolfcollection/songs/songs.html

Being actual field data, there is, of course, much here that is from relatively contemporary sources, such as Gospel hymnody, and pop music, but folksong comes from many sources, and does not exist in a vacuum.

Gotta wonder about the words to Chi-manero.

The main library in Houston had a copy of this book by Vance Randolph, which, I believe, included Rain and Snow.



Amazon has what appears to be an entire collection. Note that item 6 is from Waldenbooks. Coincidence?

By the way, for those who like to blame all "moral problems" of the modern world on Hollywood, or those who believe that America was a bastion of spiritual purity before FDR got elected, it might be worthwhile to check out his Roll Me in Your Arms: Unprintable Ozark Folksongs and Folklore and Pissing in the Snow and Other Ozark Folktales.

[ennistraveler]

Oh my, there are loads of them that I love!!! Most patriotic Irish ballads, and murder ballads. And some bluegrass songs as well.
Here are some of my favorites:

Spancil Hill
Matty Groves
Pretty Polly
Foggy Dew
Kelly from Killane
Sean South from Garryowen
Kevin Barry
The Irish Rover
Barbara Allen
Mary Hamilton (aka The four Maries)

[carrie]

Fair Annie (especially Martin Simpson's version on The Bramble Briar)
Willy O’ Winsbury
Across the Blue Mountains

[anniemcu]

I'll add
"A Very Unfortunate Man"
"The Handsome Cabin Boy"
to the many I love that have already been listed by others.

[dubhlinn]

For an epic tale encompassing all human life I would like to mention "Anachie Gordon" from Mary Blacks first album. She learned it from a recording of Nic Jones,a great English singer/guitarist who was involved in a tragic car accident thus ending his career.
His recordings are well worth checking out.

Slan,
D.

[chas]

My favorite modern ballad is "Borderlands" by Chris Caswell and Danny Carnahan, which tells the story of a boy being discovered watching a girl from afar. Kate Price also did a wonderful version of that. Another is "Renegade" by Steppenwolf, telling the story of how John Kay escaped from East Germany. And "A salty dog" by Procol Harum.

My favorite traditional is probably "Montrose," a collection of four songs about the Scottish general that Steeleye Span put together.

I like a lot of the (somewhat unbelievable) ones about guys disguising themselves (often with an eye patch) to check up on their girls, like Banks of Claudy or the Dark-eyed sailor. And girls disguising themselves to gain access to ships, like In London Town. And the ghostly ones like The unquiet grave or Demon lover/House carpenter.

Some others:

King Henry
Blow the winds
The wee wee man
Edwin
Benjamin Bowmaneer

[Darwin]

I like a lot of the (somewhat unbelievable) ones about guys disguising themselves (often with an eye patch) to check up on their girls, like Banks of Claudy or the Dark-eyed sailor.

You mean like this one, a version of which is said to have been one of W.C. Fields' favorites? The melody ain't much, and it don't rhyme, but it's a fine story with a moral.

The Poor Young Girl

There was once a poor young girl who lived in the country,
And she went to the city to seek employment.
She went to the city because the wolf was at her door,
And her father had fallen down and hurt his knee.

Just before she went to the city, her boyfriend whose name was Jack,
He said to her, "I fear you will not be true."
So he made her promise just as she was getting on the train
That every night at eight o'clock she would burst into tears.

Then she got to the city and was riding on an omnibus
When a man got up and offered her his seat
She refused him with scorn for she saw that he wore a ring
And for all she knew he could be a married man.

Then up stepped the driver and said, "I knew you would be true!"
And he tore off his false whiskers and it was Jack
The very same day she received a telegram saying her father's knee was better
And an aunt had died and left her a substantial amount of money.

Another with a similar "melody" is:

The Poor Young Man

There was once a poor young man
Who left his country home
And went to the city
To seek employment

And just before he left,
He promised his dear old mother
To always shun
The fatal curse of drink

While living in the city
He found employment in a quarry
Where he made the acquaintance of
Some college men

One night he went out
With his new-found friends to dine
And there they tried to persuade him
To take a drink

They persuaded and they persuaded
But he refuséd and he refuséd
'til finally
He took a sip of beer

When he saw what he had done
He dashed the liquor to the floor
And staggered from the bar in a fit
Of delerium tremens

And whilst in the grip of curséd liquor
He met a Salvation Army lassie
And cruelly
He burst her tambourine

All she said was "Sir, God bless you"
And left a mark upon his brow
With a kick that she had learned
Before she was savéd

Which just goes to show
You should always shun the fatal curse of drink
And don't go round
Breaking ladies' tambourines!