Mary said she was looking for education on this thread, as am I - but I'm also just nosey! And curious.
The very first ballad I sang was 'The Twa Corbies', to the Breton tune married to it by Glasgow teacher Morris Blythman. I was 13/14 years old and had added several others by the time I left secondary school aged 18 - including 'Son David', 'Sir Patrick Spens', 'The Gypsy Laddie', 'The Silkie o' Sule Skerry', 'The Dowie Dens o' Yarrow' and 'The Baron of Brackley'.
I know why I learned them, but I'd love to know what attracted others to the first ballad they learned.
Any volunteers?
I'm working on the principle that your first ballad should be do-able, so that there is encouragement to continue.