LightNews — News, ranked by scholars

@newcommunityharp.bsky.social

Do we consider the murder of a wren a murder ballad? What if it's tied to possible human sacrifice?

#harp #murder #ballad #wren

Who Killed Cock Robin | Harp | Murder Ballad | #harp #englishmusic #murderballad

YouTube video by NEW Community Harp

youtu.be

September 29, 2026 at 8:20 PM

Chordyes | Guitar Chords & Lyrics

@chordyes.bsky.social

Up next is Never Leave Cyphers Alive by Charlie's Revenge. Add it to your playlist.

https://chordyes.com/chord/charlie-s-revenge-never-leave-cyphers-alive

#acousticguitar #learnmusic #american #malevocalist #storytelling #murderballad #acoustic

Never Leave Cyphers Alive by Charlie's Revenge - Guitar Chords

Play Never Leave Cyphers Alive by Charlie's Revenge with guitar chords, and lyrics on Chordyes.

chordyes.com

September 29, 2026 at 5:05 AM

NEW Community Harp 🪉

@newcommunityharp.bsky.social

What's better than a murder ballad played on harp? How about one about a harp?

#harp #murder #ballad

The Cruel Sister | Harp | Murder Ballad | #harp #english #scottish #murderballad

YouTube video by NEW Community Harp

youtu.be

September 26, 2026 at 2:56 PM

NEW Community Harp 🪉

@newcommunityharp.bsky.social

Rejection is hard, but do better than our protagonist, Willie

#harp #murder #ballad #ohio

The Banks of the Ohio | Harp | Murder Ballad | #harp #americanmusic #murderballad

YouTube video by NEW Community Harp

youtu.be

September 24, 2026 at 10:47 AM

NEW Community Harp 🪉

@newcommunityharp.bsky.social

Here's a very pretty one. Again with the moral don't cheat on your SO.

#harp #murder #ballad

Lily of the West | Harp | Murder Ballad | #harp #englishmusic #murderballad

YouTube video by NEW Community Harp

youtu.be

September 22, 2026 at 11:50 AM

NEW Community Harp 🪉

@newcommunityharp.bsky.social

Don't tell the mother of your child you've found a more beautiful woman - it might go poorly.

#harp #murder #ballad

Young Hunting | Lever Harp | Murder Ballad | #harp #scottishmusic #murderballad

YouTube video by NEW Community Harp

youtube.com

September 20, 2026 at 12:30 PM

Gharr

@gharrhome.bsky.social

♬🐺 Howlin’ On The Prairie: suno.com/song/b2de2b2... #Slow #banjo #Dark #country #gothic #murderballad #nostalgic #classic #UTAU #vocaloid #ボーカロイド #music #音楽 #udio #kaiber #producer #business #industry #entertainment 🌍 #global #community #news New Idols, Stars and Character(s) for us to love ❤️ ❧

September 20, 2026 at 1:00 AM

NEW Community Harp 🪉

@newcommunityharp.bsky.social

If we can't find her killer, we might as well write a song about her

#harp #murder #ballad

Poor Murdered Woman | Harp | Murder Ballad | #harp #englishmusic #murderballad

YouTube video by NEW Community Harp

youtu.be

September 17, 2026 at 10:58 AM

NEW Community Harp 🪉

@newcommunityharp.bsky.social

A ballad from North Carolina

#harp #murder #ballad

Tom Dooley | Harp | Murder Ballad | #harp #americanmusic #murderballad

YouTube video by NEW Community Harp

youtu.be

September 15, 2026 at 11:12 AM

Xanthe

@xanthe91.bsky.social

#asongforcharlie #darkfolk #murderballad #folkmusic #charlesmanson #outsidermusic #xanthe

September 15, 2026 at 5:05 AM

Xanthe

@xanthe91.bsky.social

www.tiktok.com/t/ZTU4J18YY/

A Song for Charlie | A Dark Folk Murder Ballad About the Manson Family | Xanthe #asongforcharlie #darkfolk #murderballad #folkmusic #charlesmanson

TikTok video by xanthemusic

www.tiktok.com

September 15, 2026 at 5:04 AM

NEW Community Harp 🪉

@newcommunityharp.bsky.social

Welcome to the first of the Cruel Family member ballad. There's plenty more to come.

#harp #brother #murderballad

The Cruel Brother | Lever Harp | Murder Ballad | #harp #scottishmusic #murderballad

YouTube video by NEW Community Harp

youtu.be

September 12, 2026 at 11:32 AM

Sierk (Not a Monster Either)

@sierkje.bsky.social

#OrchestralTunes #MusicChallenge #MusicSky

30 tracks with an orchestra and/or classical instruments | 12

"Where the Wild Roses Grow" by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds featuring Kylie Minogue ("Murder Ballads", 1996)

#ChamberPop #GothRock #MurderBallad

September 12, 2026 at 3:03 AM

NEW Community Harp 🪉

@newcommunityharp.bsky.social

How not to finish off your husband, in song!

#harp #murder #ballad

The Old Woman of Wexford | Harp | Murder Ballad | #harp #irish #murderballad

YouTube video by NEW Community Harp

youtu.be

September 10, 2026 at 11:48 AM

GetMusic

@getmusic.bsky.social

Kindness Inc. - The Sickle

@kindnessinc.music

"A murder ballad that includes loads of murders, because it's what everyone needs right now"

#folk #folkrock #ballad #murderballad #music

getmusic.fm/l/7CYObi

August 22, 2026 at 2:44 AM

Lydia Hamessley

@lydiahamessley.bsky.social

I wrote an article on “Pretty Polly.” I discuss recordings where the violence isn’t valorized, but it still sounds traditional while supporting Polly. 🪕🎻
“A Resisting Performance of an #Appalachian Traditional #MurderBallad: Giving Voice to ‘Pretty Polly.’”
Free: www.researchgate.net/publication/...

A Resisting Performance of an Appalachian Traditional Murder Ballad: Giving Voice to "Pretty Polly"

Download Citation | A Resisting Performance of an Appalachian Traditional Murder Ballad: Giving Voice to "Pretty Polly" | Women and Music: A Journal of Gender and Culture 9 (2005) 13-36 Scenario 1: My...

www.researchgate.net

August 11, 2026 at 8:27 AM

Sean Eaton (Poet)

@nomdelamer.bsky.social

My poem "Kullervo" makes references to several murder ballads, including "Edward", namely Bishop Thomas Percy's 1765 edition, which I myself translated and rewrote back in 2021. The blackberries verse is my own invention, a fact I'd forgotten when writing "Kullervo". #poetry #poetrysky #murderballad

Edward, Edward
(traditional, Bishop Thomas Percy, 1765, translated and arranged by Sean Eaton)

(version to be sung to the tune of “Minorie”)

There once was a yeoman rich and old,
Named Edward, called Old Edward;
There once was a yeoman rich and cold,
With a wife, and a son named Edward.

“Where have ye been, at this late hour,
My Edward, my young Edward?
Where have ye been, at this late hour,
And why so long look ye, oh?”
“I was down at the burnie banks,
My mother, my dear mother;
I was down by the bonny burnie banks,
Where I let my mare drink free, oh.”

“Why has your coat-sleeve been torn so,
My Edward, my young Edward?
Why has your coat-sleeve been torn so,
And why’s it stained so red, oh?”
“I was caught on a blackberry thorn,
My mother, my dear mother;
I was caught on a blackberry brush,
And struggled on the brambles.”

“The blackberry stains not so red,
My Edward, my young Edward;
The blackberry stains not so red,
And I see no horse with thee, oh.”
“Oh, I have killed my hawk so good,
My mother, my dear mother;
I have but killed my hawk so good,
And my steed is in the stable.”

“Your small hawk’s blood is not so red,
My Edward, my young Edward;
Your small hawk’s blood was not so red,
I dare, dear Son, tell thee, oh.”
“Oh, I have killed my red-roan mare,
My mother, my dear mother;
I have killed my red-roan mare,
That e’er was fair and free, oh.”

(continued in next image)

(continued from previous image)

“Your steed was old, and ye have no other,
My Edward, my young Edward;
Your steed was old, and ye have no other,
Some other fate befell thee.”
“Oh, I have killed my father old,
My mother, O my mother;
Oh, I have struck my father down,
Alas, and woe is me, oh!”

“And what penance, then, shall ye do,
My Edward, my young Edward?
“Oh, what penance, then, shall ye do,
My dear Son, now tell me, oh!”
“I’ll set my feet in yonder boat,
My mother, O my mother;
I’ll set myself in wooden ship,
And fare over the Sea, oh.”

“And what will ye do of your house and barns,
My Edward, O my Edward?
And what will ye do with your house and barns,
That stood so fair to see, oh?”
“I’ll let them stand, ‘til they’ll no more,
My mother, O my mother;
I’ll let them stand, ‘til they do fall,
For here no more I’ll be, oh.”

“And what will ye leave your babes and wife,
My Edward, O my Edward?
What will ye leave for your babes and wife,
When ye gang over the sea, oh?”
“The world is wide, let the beg through life,
My mother, O my mother;
The world is wide, let the beg through life,
For they I’ll no more see, oh!”

“And what will ye leave for your mother dear,
My Edward, my young Edward?
And what will ye leave for your mother dear,
My dear Son, now tell me, oh!”
“I’ll not leave but a Curse from Hell,
O mother, O my mother!
A Curse of Hell from myself ye’ll wear—
For ye bade me do the deed.”

July 22, 2026 at 10:38 PM

Onyx

@advantage87.bsky.social

a folk punk murder ballad in the queer dark folk lane at nineteen seconds is the cleanest preview tease the americana indie folk timeline can scroll past, the murderballad tradition from barbara allen forward needs modern queer storytellers and the format works

June 19, 2026 at 7:17 AM

NEW Community Harp 🪉

@newcommunityharp.bsky.social

Here's a bonus murder ballad that didn't make the latest book

#harp #murderballad

Jellon Grame | Lever Harp | English | Murder Ballad | #harp #englishmusic #murderballad

YouTube video by NEW Community Harp

youtu.be

June 16, 2026 at 11:24 AM

Xanthe

@xanthe91.bsky.social

#folkpunk #murderballad #darkfolk #acousticmusic #americana #indiefolk #truecrime #queerartist #folkmusic #singersongwriter

June 8, 2026 at 5:58 AM

50+ Music

@fiftymusic.bsky.social

"The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" is a #SouthernGothic #murderBallad first recorded by actress, singer, comedian #VickiLawrence. The song was written in 1972 by songwriter #BobbyRussell, who was married to Lawrence at the time. Lawrence's version, from her 1973 album of the same name.