Nick Caffrey a singer's view on traditional songs

23 Lady Maisry   a nd other songs often linked to this ballad – Bonnie Susie Cleland and Mother Mother Make My Bed. A song of pregnancy, family feud and murder

22 The Streams of Lovely Nancy, also known as Come All You Little Streamers and, The Streams of Nantsian.  A cryptic love song reflecting on lost love and an idealised dwelling

21 The Cruel Ship's Carpenter: A tale of murder, a sea voyage and ultimate revenge.  Along the way I will sing excerpts of the various ballad tunes and look at it known history 

 False Bride, a song of regret sung by the rejected suitor. Along the way I will sing some samples of tune and look at the background and printing history. The final song is performed by Nick Dow

A tale of a seducer and serial killer of young women, his eventual downfall at the hands of a clever plucky heroine, and end with a conversation with a parrot. Along the way I will sing tunes that are linked into the different versions of the ballad, and look at its background and printing history

The Seeds of Love and The Sprig of Thyme , both have similar themes using flower motifs as symbols of their disappointed love.  Over the years the songs have become intertwined. I will show both songs as separate entities and look at their possible history. Then show how they have become joined as if they were one song. I will sing examples of various tunes linked to the songs and finish with a pe...

A tale revenge by a cheated mason, murder and execution. Looking at its background, origin and the various versions and tunes with sung examples. It will end with a full performance of the song.   Further information:  Broadside: a published song sold on the streets - usually one-sided page (hence broadside).  

A tale of a young and pregnant woman whose lover decides to ride off instead of marrying her. I will look at its history and sing samples of tunes and finish on a performance of a full version of the ballad.

A song of imprisonment, appeal and sadness.  Discusses the background to the English version of Geordie, with sung examples of  the tunes used for the song ending with a full performance sung by Ed McGurk accompanied by Robin Madge.

A tale of imprisonment, a plucky wife and a ransom paid for freedom This song is also known as The Lady of Gight or Gight's Lady. I sing tunes related to the ballad and look at its background and varying scenarios

A song of an outsider who seduces a young girl, I will also look at the Irish variation written by Dr George Sigerson  The podcast ends with a performance by Jane and Amanda Threlfall sing the English version collected by Percy Merrick.

A ballad of would-be seduction foiled by herbal magic. It includes talking animals and an unsavory suitor.  The end performance is by Nick Dow, accompanied by Nigel Cantor on violin.

A song of an arranged marriage.  I will sing some of the tunes associated with the song and look at its background and publishing history 

A dark tale of jealousy and thoughtless murder and in early versions, supernatural revenge.  I also look at the ballad The Berkshire Tragedy which is often mistakenly linked to the The Two Sisters ballad. As well as tracing the known history of the song I sing samples of the different tunes associated to the ballad and finish on a full performance.

A ballad of two lovers, deadly murder, and a ghostly visit.  I will also look at a later rewrite of the ballad The Constant Farmer's Son. I will sing samples of the tunes and end on a full performance of Bruton Town sung by Nick Caffrey and accompanied on guitar by Nick Dow

A song of seduction, highwaymen and capture with great tune.

Today's podcast is The Two Magicians, a ballad of seduction involving magic and shape changing. A look at its known history with sung samples of the tunes and a final full performance from Caffrey, McGurk, Madge

A tale of a family feud against the hero, his murder, and its effect on his true love. 

The Bold Fisherman (aka Flowing Down the Tide).  This song can be seen as a broken token song or an allegory of early Christian symbols. I will explore some of the theories linked to this song, sing tune examples and end with a live  performance from Amanda and Jane Threlfall accompanied by Roger Edwards and Martin Ellison.

A singers view of the song The Cuel Mother, A tale of an unmarried mother, murder, and remorse , looking at its background, origin and the various versions and tunes with sung examples. It will end with a full performance of the song.   Further information: Broadside: a published song sold on the streets - usually one-sided page (hence broadside).   #nickcaffrey #folkmusic #traditionalmusic #cruel...

A singer's view of the song Banks of Green Willow, looking at its background, origin and the various versions and tunes with sung examples. It will end with a full performance of the song.    Further information:  Broadside: a published song sold on the streets - usually one-sided page (hence broadside).   Guest performer: Nick Dow  #nickcaffrey #folkmusic #traditionalmusic #Banksofgreenwillo...

A singers view of the song Polly Vaughan/Molly Bawn, a song of accidental death, remorse, and a ghostly visit; looking at its background, origin and the various versions and tunes with sung examples. It will end with a full performace of the song. Further information: Broadside: a published song sold on the streets - usually one-sided page (hence broadside). #nickcaffrey #folkmusic #traditionalmus...