I think that a ballad has to have an epic feel to it. A universal theme in a story that carries down through the ages.

In a sense, I think that this is what the popular ballad means, too. It's a "standard", generally slow and with sophisticated harmony that has an enduring quality.

The ballad is a venerable song or poem that has a kind of dignity to it.

A comic song is not a ballad in my opinion. Nor is a rock song or simple-minded ditty.

A ballad (in the folk music sense) has to be listened to as lyrics.
The melody is a vehicle for carrying the story.

The popular ballad of the 40's, 50's can be listened to for its melody which is generally sophisticated musically but the words are of a higher quality.

A ballad is not in my opinion a dance tune either. It requires a concentration on the lyrics that tell the story.

Some examples of folk ballads:
Barbara Allen
Hangman, Slack Your Rope
She Moved Through The Fair
Streets of Laredo
Bonny Banks of Binnorie
Edward
Lady Gay or The Wife of Ushers Well
(Check the ballad index....)

Examples of popular ballads
All The Things You Are   Kern
Time After Time    Carmicheal
Embraceable You    Gershwin
Night and Day       Porter
Spring Is Here       Rogers and Hart
It Might As Well Be Spring   "   "
Autumn in New York      Vernon Duke
Speak Low             Kurt Weill
September Song    "       "
(I think you get the idea)

I think both type ballads define themselves.


Frank Hamilton