Christmas Special
Every Folk Song
An Every Folk Song chronology of some of the major Christmas songs in history. From The Friendly Beasts to Frosty the Snowman and more!
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15 - The Cruel Ship's Carpenter
Every Folk Song
Roud 15 is called "The Cruel Ship's Carpenter," but if you know it, it would probably be as "Pretty Polly." And old English song about a brutal, calculated murder which became an American bluegrass standard, this song has a well-traced history behind it.
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The Wratten Murders
Every Folk Song
A little diversion from the normal path down the Roud Folk Index, Matt sets off on a quest to solve a mundane little mystery and discovers a horrific and little known true crime story with twists and a turns which consumes his life.
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14 - The Daemon Lover
Every Folk Song
Roud 14, "The Daemon Lover." Or "The House Carpenter." It's a song that epitomizes a literary and cultural motif that's been expounded on in depth by people a lot smarter than me, but I try to capture the ideas here.
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13 - The Dowie Dens of Yarrow
Every Folk Song
Roud 13 is called "The Dowie Dens of Yarrow." It's as much about a small area of Scotland and it's history as it is about a man betrayed and the woman who mourns him.
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12 - The Elfin Knight
Every Folk Song
Roud 12 is called "The Elfin Knight." You would definitely know it better as "Scarborough Fair." Its about a magical man and his would-be young bride. And it's about an old merchant's fair in North Yorkshire. And it's about 4 herbs, which you know very well.
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11 - The Baffled Knight
Every Folk Song
This episode focuses on Roud 11, "The Baffled Knight." It's a moral swamp and I have a few breakdowns about it. The oldest published version was in 1609 and that's almost as long as it's been since I last released an episode.
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10 - Lord Randall
Every Folk Song
Roud 10, "Lord Randall" is the last song about murder for a little while, I think. Evolved from an old Italian song first printed in the 1600s, this English song has been incredibly popular. And it's one of Matt's favorite songs we've covered so far.
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9 - The Cruel Mother
Every Folk Song
Roud 9, "The Cruel Mother." A product of the society and moral/political climate it formed in, this 400ish-year-old song weaves a haunting and disturbing tale. While possibly borne of politics long past, this song still has a deep impact when viewed against the social problems of the day. Another song about murder...
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8 - The Twa Sisters
Every Folk Song
Roud 8, "the Twa Sisters" or "the Two Sisters" or 30 different other titles. This ballad, first published in 1656, has its roots in European culture as far back to the 9th Century and spreads out like a great tree from there, with different leaves on each branch but the same trunk underneath. If you like the way I murdered that metaphor, you'll love this tale of murder and jealousy and dismemberment and fiddle-making.
info_outlineThis episode focuses on Roud 3, "The Sprig of Thyme." Originally collected by Cecil Sharpe as "Seeds of Love" in 1903. Matt dissects the often-questionable poetry of the song, discusses the attitudes on gender and sexuality that the song expresses, and touches on an English New Wave band from the early 80's.
CONTENT WARNING: Sex is referred to quite a bit in both mature and immature fashions. Matt says "bone down on" at least once. Sorry.