murder ballad
Deadly narrative tune
A murder ballad is a folk song that tells the story of a killing, typically in narrative detail.
The genre emerged from British and Appalachian traditions, often featuring lovers, outlaws, or family members as victims or perpetrators: The old murder ballads always seem to end with someone hanging or drowning.
The songs blend stark violence with melodic simplicity, and the form has been revived by contemporary artists drawn to its dark subject matter.
- folkRegular common people
- old timeFrom long ago
- deathCessation of life
- loverRomantic intimate
- revengePunishing a wrongdoer
cold blood · gallows · crime · tragic · true love · jilted lover · bloody · outlaw · jealousy · hanged · hanged man · knife · betrayal · ghost · Appalachian · traditional · confession · dying words
- folk musicfolk, folk music, folk songs, folk singers, folk singer
- balladsEdward, Chevy Chase, I Will Always Love You, Unchained Melody, November Rain
- folk singingsea shanties, work songs, sea shanty, work song, call and response
- folk songstraditional songs, work songs, lullaby, love songs, shanty
- folk versefolk song, nursery rhyme, lullaby, sea shanty, work song
- narrative musicstory song, corrido, song cycle, concept album, rock opera
murder balladlove song
Romantic musical composition
wedding song · nursery rhyme · children's song · lullaby · hymn of praise
murder, ballad, murders, murdered, murdering, murderer, murderers, murderous, murderously