I tend to stay away from all the "Idiot Bastard Son" ballads (as a friend calls them like "Willow Garden", "Pretty Polly", "Knoxville Girl", "Little Glass Of Wine" and "Banks of the Ohio", maybe because I don't like the murderers, or maybe because if I hear yet another version of "Banks Of The Ohio" I'd be tempted (but would resist) to strangle the perpe-traitor themselves. Of course I wouldn't even think of harming Doc. Who would ever want to harm Doc? I didn't really mean that, Doc, honest!.....

"The Well Below The Valley" and "The Cruel Mother" tie for the top female murderers.


.....But about the grimmest character I can think of, and probably the one I'd least like to meet up with or tangle with is "Long Lankin" (and his nurse accomplice).