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Podcast: Bone and Sickle
Episode: Murdered Sweetheart Songs
Description: As a special Valentineâs episode, we present collection of folk songs known as âsweetheart murder ballads.â Â We begin with two newer songs dating to the 19th century, âOn the Banks of the Ohioâ and âDown in the Willow Garden.â Â While considered American songs and first documented in Appalachia, these ballads appear to borrow elements from older European songs.
One of the most widely known murder ballads, âOn the Banks of the Ohio,â like most of songs in this program, was first recorded in America in the 1920s. Â We hear a snippet of that early (1927) recording by Red Pattersonâs Piedm...