I recall a memorable occasion at a folk festival I ran many years ago. It was an early afternoon workshop on a Saturday, and a performer I had booked with some trepidation did a couple of long, long ballads. Several people in the audience literally fell asleep.
I felt like tip toeing out of the room. It seemed rude to awaken them from such a long nap. The performer seemed quite oblivious to the whole thing. He was mesmerized by the stories in the songs and sang them with reverence.

I could understand if this happened late in an evening set, but this was a bright, sunny day at one in the afternoon. It is a rare singer who can pull off a long ballad, even singing for an audience who has come with the desire to hear folk music. I don't know whether long historical ballads work better if you give a lengthy introduction recounting the history of the event before you sing the song.

Ballads work best in a pre-anounced ballad workshop,NOT on a full stomach in a warm room. :-)

That's too bad, because some of them are quit marvelous.

Jerry