Every Folk Song

A podcast where a guy with no expertise on anything explains the history and evolution (to the best of his researched knowledge) of every folk song, in order by Roud Index number. Why? Even he doesn't know.

Christmas Special 12/20/2020

Christmas Special An Every Folk Song chronology of some of the major Christmas songs in history. From The Friendly Beasts to Frosty the Snowman and more! /episode/index/show/everyfolksong/id/17263265

15 - The Cruel Ship's Carpenter 10/09/2020

15 - The Cruel Ship's Carpenter 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. /episode/index/show/everyfolksong/id/16343267

The Wratten Murders 04/02/2020

The Wratten Murders 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. /episode/index/show/everyfolksong/id/13825322

14 - The Daemon Lover 02/09/2020

14 - The Daemon Lover 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. /episode/index/show/everyfolksong/id/13079246

13 - The Dowie Dens of Yarrow 06/16/2019

13 - The Dowie Dens of Yarrow 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. /episode/index/show/everyfolksong/id/10168676

12 - The Elfin Knight 05/25/2019

12 - The Elfin Knight 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. /episode/index/show/everyfolksong/id/9921209

11 - The Baffled Knight 04/02/2018

11 - The Baffled Knight 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. /episode/index/show/everyfolksong/id/6433050

10 - Lord Randall 01/09/2014

10 - Lord Randall 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. /episode/index/show/everyfolksong/id/2623402

9 - The Cruel Mother 12/25/2013

9 - The Cruel Mother 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... /episode/index/show/everyfolksong/id/2607184

8 - The Twa Sisters 11/28/2013

8 - The Twa Sisters 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. /episode/index/show/everyfolksong/id/2571720

7 - The Female Highwayman 11/15/2013

7 - The Female Highwayman Roud 7, "The Female Highwayman" or "Sovay." This somewhat ridiculous ballad comes from the English countryside somewhere between the 16th and 18th centuries, and crops up in the countrysides of all English-speaking nations where highway robbery was a significant problem. It's a love song! About threatening to murder someone. everyfolksong.xyz/ /episode/index/show/everyfolksong/id/2553398

6 - Long Lankin 10/30/2013

6 - Long Lankin Roud 6, "Long Lankin." This horrifying and dark folk song comes from the Northern UK, dating back to at least the 15th century. It's not an easy one to digest and its origins are as clouded in darkness and mystery as the story it tells. WARNING: This episode is pretty creepy and probably not suited for anyone very young or with a very young-like proclivity to fear. Citations and other content at: /episode/index/show/everyfolksong/id/2529327

5 - The Three Ravens 10/16/2013

5 - The Three Ravens Roud 5, "The Three Ravens." An old English ballad thought to date back to the 13th century, this bleak, BLEAK song was first printed in 1611. Find out just how bleak it is and just how much bleaker it could get when it finds its way to Scotland. This is really a dark-twilight-of-the-soul kind of podcast episode. /episode/index/show/everyfolksong/id/2510866

4 - Lord Thomas and Fair Eleanor 10/02/2013

4 - Lord Thomas and Fair Eleanor This episode focuses on Roud 4, "Lord Thomas and Fair Eleanor." (alt. Ellenor, Elendor, Ellinor, Elinor) The lyrics to this song have remained relatively unchanged since it was printed on a Broadside in 1677. Sit tight as Matt does his own re-telling, followed by a brief history, and then deep dive into the meanings and context of this insane story. /episode/index/show/everyfolksong/id/2494280

3 - The Sprig of Thyme 09/18/2013

3 - The Sprig of Thyme This 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. /episode/index/show/everyfolksong/id/2475932

2 - The Unfortunate Rake 09/04/2013

2 - The Unfortunate Rake This episode focuses on Roud 2, "The Unfortunate Rake" and its journey across Europe, into and out of the Crimean War, and then over the Atlantic, where it settled in the American West and New Orleans. Made popular as "The Streets of Laredo" and "St. James Infirmary" by artists like Johnny Cash and Louis Armstrong. /episode/index/show/everyfolksong/id/2457160

1 - The Raggle Taggle Gypsy 08/21/2013

1 - The Raggle Taggle Gypsy In this inaugural episode, we start off with Roud 1, The Raggle Taggle Gypsy, a Scottish ballad originating from the 17th century. Plus, a brief explanation of this podcast and this "Roud Folk Music Index" everyone (matt) has been talking about. /episode/index/show/everyfolksong/id/2443706

Every Folk Song

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