Posted by Racer on April 1, 2006, at 1:16:32
In reply to Re: ...oooh I found it :-), posted by Declan on March 31, 2006, at 23:25:11
Sharyn McCrumb, who's written a series of books known as The Ballad Novels, each titled after an American folk song -- "If Ever I Return, Pretty Peggy-O," "She Walks These Hills," etc. While the books are each based around a mystery of some sort, there's a lot in there about the history of the ballads, and the connection between the American folk song tradition and the Celtic roots it grew out of.
Also a lot of information comes out about themes in the songs, how many are about death, generally women murdered by their lovers, and so on. Fascinating stuff, if you're interested. And she's a great story teller...
Thanks for bringing this up. I'll try to check out that song -- no sound card, though, so not quite yet.
poster:Racer
thread:627308
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20060331/msgs/627388.html