Favorite Ballads - Songs that Tell a Story

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 12:48 am

Star of the County Down

Maid Who Sold Her Barley

The Rising of the Moon

Foggy Dew

Kevin Barry

Brian Lee · Post by **Brian Lee** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 8:50 am

The Humors of Whiskey
There Were Roses

dubhlinn · Post by **dubhlinn** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 8:56 am

Among my favourite narrative ballads would have to be Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrigs version of this song.

http://www.elyrics.net/go/l/lloyd-lyric ... ns-lyrics/

Slan,
D.

Joe_Atlanta · Post by **Joe_Atlanta** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 11:01 am

Saw a pretty good movie last night, October Sky, based on Homer Hickam's Rocket Boys, a must see for Chris Cooper fans or anyone looking for feel good movie (or anyone like me who can actually remember the '50s

). It was set in a small Appalachian coal town and got me thinking about mining songs.

Blue Diamond Mines - Jean Ritchie
1913 Massacre - Woody Guthrie (never heard it by Woody, but Jack Elliot has a couple of recorded versions)
Paradise - John Prine (not a ballad, still a good story song)

TomB · Post by **TomB** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 11:35 am

Almost anything by Chris de burgh. Most folks may know him only as the guy who sang "Lady in Red" but that song really does not do him justice. His lyrics are typically phenomenal.

All the Best, Tom

dwinterfield · Post by **dwinterfield** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 12:02 pm

As this thread goes way past Irish Trad musuic, here are a few of my current favorites

Irish - Lough Melvin's Shore (Chulua)
Kevin Barry

Leonard Cohen - The Gypsy's Wife

Emmy Lou Harris - Michangelo

Lyle Lovet - This Old Porch
- L.A. County - (country stalker story with rock beat!)

Kasey Chambers - Paper Aeroplane
Nullarbor Song (feels like a ballad, but I'm not sure)

On the subject of Kasey Chambers, can any of our Australian friends offer any insight as to how she's preceived there. I find her voice a little odd, but very appealing. Her song writing is good and geting better.

LeeMarsh · Post by **LeeMarsh** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 12:38 pm

Thanks for everyone that has contributed so far, over 200 ballads with many a forgotten favorite. Here are some links to some that were mentioned above

So many stories shared, I wonder at the richness of life that connects us so.

ancatsidhe · Post by **ancatsidhe** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 1:46 pm

hm... I don't think I've seen any of these posted yet:

Child Noryce (the version with which I'm familar is done by Kornog on their self-titled album)

Edward

Willie's Lady

The Errant Apprentice (Andy M. Stewart-- very funny)

Go Home, Girl
New York Girls (both of which are really story-songs, I guess, but they amuse me, too)

The Two Sisters (which has been posted several times... I still like it)

Gypsy Davie (and any variation thereon)

Willam Taylor (same deal, though the first rendition with which I fell in love was Patrick Streets)

The Slip Jigs and Reels (performed by the House Band. I think they wrote it too, but I don't have the linernotes to check...)

I also noticed that there was no mention of 'Rocky Road to Dublin.' Couldn't that be considered a story song as well? or is everyone too drunk by the time they get around to singing it that no one notices?

colomon · Post by **colomon** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:20 pm

ancatsidhe wrote:The Slip Jigs and Reels (performed by the House Band. I think they wrote it too, but I don't have the linernotes to check...)

Steve Tilston wrote that song -- it's on his Of Moor and Mesa. Fairport Convention also covered it. He's written a number of other great story songs -- "The Naked Highwayman" comes to mind.

I think my current favorite story song is "Tickle Cove Pond".