Tag Archives: Bellowhead

Comfort listening: five songs

Posted on December 15, 2015 by H.M. Goodchild

This started off as a blog about folk songs. I haven’t talked about them much recently but they are there still as the backdrop to my writing and so, to give you something of their flavour, here’s a post about five of the Child … Continue reading →

Posted in Child Ballad, folk music, folk song, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Night visiting

Posted on October 19, 2012 by H.M. Goodchild

Well, it’s autumn, the evenings are darkening, the clocks are about to go back and Hallowe’en is approaching. Time to think about ghost stories. One of the most poignant I know is the Wife of Usher’s Well (Child Ballad no. … Continue reading →

Posted in Allegory, Child Ballad, death, folk music, folk song, Karine Polwart, love, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

True loves and happy endings

Posted on May 24, 2011 by H.M. Goodchild

Well, parrots have had a mention but they’re not the only talking animals to be found in folksong. The Broomfield Hill or The Broomfield Wager (Child Ballad no. 43) has a positive menagerie of talking beasts, though all are rather less exotic … Continue reading →

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The folksong parrot

Posted on May 16, 2011 by H.M. Goodchild

I’ve just discovered a terrific ballad on an album bought on spec ‘cos I liked the band’s name (‘Crooked Still’ since you ask). It’s called ‘Henry Lee’ and is a version (probably) of ‘The outlandish knight’ but with a murderous … Continue reading →

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