Tag Archives: Karine Polwart

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

The tender side of a monster

Posted on October 12, 2012 by H.M. Goodchild

History in song again. I think Henry VIII a monstrous figure, even within the context of his time. He set no limit on himself, and others suffered for it. Nevertheless there is a very tender portrayal of him in Child … Continue reading →

Posted in Child Ballad, death, folk music, folk song, Henry VIII, Jane Seymour, love, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Death and the ravens

Posted on June 20, 2011 by H.M. Goodchild

More knights this time. Not murderous for a change, only dead. One song in particular caught my attention: The Three Ravens (Child Ballad no. 26). It’s an achingly sad tale set after some battle or other. The ravens are looking for their … Continue reading →

Posted in animal, Child Ballad, death, folk music, folk song, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment