Well to each his own, I have to say that this is one of my favorite ballads and I absolutely love Joan Baez' version. And I don't think I'm the only one that likes it, it's on my CD and several people have said it is their favorite song on the album. The Four Marys to me is interesting because of the details - I can imagine the conflicting feelings of Mary Hamilton as she is taken to the gallows. And I wonder about her situation, maybe she had little choice if she was seduced by a man of a much higher station. Whether or not this actually happened in the court of Mary Queen of Scots is irrelevant - it surely DID happen time and time again. The dilema of what to do with an illegitimate child when the WOMAN bore all the stigma and disgrace...

I will admit to being one of those who gladly sits through long ballads - even the sad ones, provided the singer does a good job of singing/telling the tale.

One man's meat is another man's poison, I guess!