Today podcast examines the popular ballad Barbara Allen. I will look at the publishing history, sing samples of the songs and end on a complete performance of one of the songs.A young man falls in love with Barbara Allen, but she ...

Today I will look at the ballads which contain riddles within their central theme.  I will look at the publishing history, sing samples of the songs and end on a complete performance of one of the songs

Today I will look at the ballad known Lady Elspat Lady Elspat plans to elope with her love William, but her brother's page informs Elspat’s mother. The mother takes William to court on a charge of breaking into the castle ste...

In today’s podcast we’ll take a look at songs in which lovers are parted and eventually return after some years.  These are often referred to as broken token songs 

Today’s podcast looks at the ballad The Wife of Usher’s Well. A mother sends her sons across the sea to school, only to find later that they had died. She grieves their loss, cursing the winds and sea for their return. They do retur...