The Bonnie Banks of Fordie (Child #14)

Subject: The Bonnie Banks of Fordie
From: GUEST,Pat Blackman
Date: 19 May 12 - 11:37 AM

This week on Murder Ballad Monday - Ken takes on "The Bonnie Banks of Fordie" in three blog posts.

"Babylon" - Murder, twice, by mistake? Well, yes and no. This week Ken looks at "Babylon" or "The Bonnie Banks of Fordie "(Child Ballad 14) in its many iterations. Today's post includes a performance by Tim O'Brien, with harmony vocals by…(no spoilers here, you'll have to read the post).

The Underbelly of Myth - How might a murder ballad like "Babylon" become "exhausted" – and what does that even mean? Ken explains today in a great post about how stories make their way through human history and culture, sometimes becoming so exhausted in the process that they…well, they die. (Or is it that we kill them off?)

With versions of the song by Nic Jones, Jon Boden, and Jean Hewson.

The Natural and the Unnatural, Naturally - In today's post, Ken explores the emotional and symbolic depths of "Babylon" and discovers that the song may be lying to today's listeners, taking them somewhere totally unexpected.

With versions by Malinky, John Jacob Miles, and the Old Blind Dogs, as well as a link to a custom playlist of additional versions.

Subject: RE: The Bonnie Banks of Fordie
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 19 May 12 - 12:30 PM

Dick Gaughan also did a chilling version of this on No More Forever.

Subject: RE: The Bonnie Banks of Fordie
From: GUEST
Date: 19 May 12 - 08:37 PM

I would have loved to include it. Couldn't find an online version.

Subject: RE: The Bonnie Banks of Fordie
From: DebC
Date: 19 May 12 - 08:47 PM

I found a version of this in the Helen Hartness Flanders Collection called the Burly Burly banks of Barbry-o.

I recorded it on my CD Dad's Dinner Pail and Other Songs From the Helen Hartness Flanders Collection

You can listen to a version from the above link.

Debra Cowan

Subject: RE: The Bonnie Banks of Fordie
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Jun 21 - 05:32 PM

Do we have the lyrics to this?
https://mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=417

Subject: RE: The Bonnie Banks of Fordie (Child #14)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 21 Jun 21 - 05:37 PM

Whose lyrics are you looking for, Joe ??

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Found 'em. It was a matter of tracking down the crosslink group, which I couldn't do during the Singaround.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: The Bonnie Banks of Fordie (Child #14)
From: Howard Jones
Date: 22 Jun 21 - 04:41 AM

The blog seems to be "invitation only".