The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #101056   Message #2046579
Posted By: GUEST,Scoville at Dad's
08-May-07 - 08:23 PM
Thread Name: Let's talk about murder ballads.
Subject: RE: Let's talk about murder ballads.
I gather this is restricted to British-tradition ballads and not American murder ballads from other traditions; otherwise, I'd suggest "Stagolee", "Little Sadie", and "Ella Speed". "Stagolee" and "Ella Speed" are African-American, and "Little Sadie" generally shows up in white string-band repertoires but frequently has a lot in common with "Ella" (and a lot of string-band tunes are disguised African-American play songs or work songs, so it would not surprise me if "Sadie" was borrowed from one of those traditions, as well).