Karen Hogg·Feb 4The Murder Ballad as Protest Song: Biko and Telling the Truth through Music“September ‘77
Echoes and Embers with Jeff Gabbard·Oct 10, 2025The Ballad of Verity Turner, Chapter 2: Shortcut Through the HillsFully dressed with their saddlebags packed, they both climbed onto Daniel’s mule, Maggie. Stronger than an average horse, Maggie was the…
InFanfarebyKiki Wellington·Mar 12, 2023Murder Ballads for the Homicidal Maniac in YouKiller songs to exercise your demonsA response icon4A response icon4
InThe RiffbyThomas Bedenbaugh·Jan 16, 2022On Marissa Nadler’s “Bessie, Did You Make It?”Nadler’s take on the story of outlaws on the run eschews romanticism in favor of the ambiguities of a grim realism
InMurder, Mystery, and Mayhem in the Old North StatebyMurder, Mystery, and Mayhem·Aug 16, 2019THE MANY BALLADS OF NELL CROPSEYThe mysterious death of Nell Cropsey in Elizabeth City in 1901 has sparked a number of folk ballads that were long popular in the eastern…
InMurder, Mystery, and Mayhem in the Old North StatebyMurder, Mystery, and Mayhem·Apr 26, 2019The Ballad of Frankie Silver“The Ballad of Frankie Silver” dates back to the nineteenth century. It is known to have existed in manuscript form in 1865. The lyrics…A response icon1A response icon1
InMurder, Mystery, and Mayhem in the Old North StatebyMurder, Mystery, and Mayhem·Mar 15, 2019Murder of the Lawson Family, the BalladThe Lawson family murders of December 25, 1929 inspired the composition of a murder ballad that has been recorded by numerous artists…
