Explore every episode of the podcast Nick Caffrey a singer's view on traditional songs

A medeval song for the Christmas period: Today I will look at the ballads The Carnal and the Crane, King Pharim, and King Herod and the Cock all of which concern the mythical beginnings of the early life of Jesus of Nazareth. I will look at their known printing history, sing samples of the different versions and end with a full performance of the ballad

Today I will look at two English songs My Bonny, Bonny Boy and The Grey Hawk that share a similar theme of lost love 

There are two British ballads that are often confused with each other. These ballads are Edward and The Two Brothers. I will also look at Lord Randall which often shares some verses with the Edward ballad and I will include the American ballad known as The Rolling of the Stones which is often linked to the Two Brothers

Today I will look at two English songs Hares on the Mountain and The Furze Field that share a similar theme of sexual desire disguised as countryside theme. I will look at their printing history, sing samples of the different versions and end with a full performance of one of the songss 

The Deamon Lover or The House Carpenter’s Wife 

 Today I will look at the balld known Deamon Lover or The House Carpenter’s Wife. I will look at the publishing history, sing samples of the song and end on a complete performance of the ballad

The ballad tells of a young married woman who is visited by a previous love who had once been he intended husband, She is seduced away from her husband and child by promises of wealth

Today podcast examines the popular ballad Barbara Allen. I will look at the publishing history, sing samples of the songs and end on a complete performance of one of the songs.

A young man falls in love with Barbara Allen, but she does not return his love and makes scornful remarks about him. He pines away and dies. Barbara Allen realises that she loved him and she too pines away and dies.

Today I will look at the ballads which contain riddles within their central theme.  I will look at the publishing history, sing samples of the songs and end on a complete performance of one of the songs

Today I will look at the ballad known Lady Elspat 

Lady Elspat plans to elope with her love William, but her brother's page informs Elspat’s mother. The mother takes William to court on a charge of breaking into the castle stealing her jewels. 

In today’s podcast we’ll take a look at songs in which lovers are parted and eventually return after some years.  These are often referred to as broken token songs 

Today’s podcast looks at the ballad The Wife of Usher’s Well. 

A mother sends her sons across the sea to school, only to find later that they had died. She grieves their loss, cursing the winds and sea for their return. They do return, as physical ghosts, and convince her to let them rest in peace

Today I will look at the Victorian song British Man of War and its sequel Susan’s Adventures in a British Man of War. 

A sailor is walking with his true love Susan. When she asks him not to venture into danger; the sailor tells her he must go and fight the Chinese for the honour of the country. He tears his handkerchief into two and presents her with one of the halves as link to his love. As he is rowed off towards his ship she waves her handkerchief.

Today I will look at the song known as Three Ravens and the reworked version known as TheTwa Corbies. The ballad tells of a discussion between three ravens that see a dead knight whose body is protected from predators by his hounds and hawks

An American from Philadelphia is wandering around Europe; he wanders into England. He meets a young woman and falls in love with her, asks her father’s permission to marry her and settles down on the Green Mossy Banks of the Lea

Today I will look at the ballad known as The Lass of Roch Royal it is also known as Lord Gregory and The Maid of Aughrim. I will look at the songs and publishing history, sing samples of the songs and end on a complete performance of one of the songs

In today’s podcast I will look at the song Sweet William also known under several other titles including Father, Build Me A Boat, A Sailor’s Life, and Early, Early in the Spring.

I will look at the known background to the song, its printing history and development.

I will sing samples of the tune linked to the song and end with a full performance.

Today’s podcast looks at the seasonal carol The Moon Shines Bright also known as The Bellman’s Song. I will look at the background to the carol, its publishing history, and sing samples of the carol and end on a complete performance of a version of the carol

In today’s podcast I will look at the two separate songs that we know as The Broom of the Cowdenknowes. I will look at the songs and publishing history, show the difference between the songs and sing samples of the songs and end on a complete performance of one of the songs

In today’s podcast I will look at the background to the death of Admiral John Benbow in 1702 and why he was celebrated in songs that are still sung today. I will sing samples of the songs and end on a full performance.

Today’s podcast looks at the Scottish ballad Katherine Jaffrey, its English equivalent known as The Green Wedding and the reworked poem Lochinvar. I will look at their publishing history, show the difference and sing samples of the songs and end on a complete performance of one of the songs

Today’s podcast looks at the ballad High Germany along with two other songs that have similar themes - The True Lovers and The Wars of Germany.  

I will look at its background and printing history, sing samples of the different tunes and versions I will end on a full performance.

Today’s podcast looks at the ballad The Great Silkie of Sule Skerry often referred to as The Silkie or The Norway Maid. I will look at its background and printing history. Sing samples of the different tunes and versions, and end on a full performance

Today’s podcast looks at the song The Foggy Dew, a tale of seduction and lasting love. I will look at what we know about its origin, its variations and printing history. I will sing samples of the song tunes and end on a full performance 

Today’s podcast looks at the ballad Death of Queen Jane.  I will look at its background and printing history Sing samples of the different tunes and versions and end on a full performance. The ballad tells of the death of Jane Seymour, the third wife of Henry VIII of England and I explore the probable truth and the political spin of that time.

Today’s podcast looks at the ballad Sweet William’s Ghost. I will look at its background and printing history. Sing samples of the different tunes and versions, and end on a full performance 

All the podcasts can be found on the website: caffreymcgurkmadge.com

In today’s podcast I will look at the maritime song A Ship in Distress and two associated songs The Silk Merchant’s Daughter and Little Billee. I will explore its background and printing history, sing versions of the song and end on a full performance

Today’s podcast looks at the ballad The Three Butchers, a tale of robbers, an heroic butcher and a traitorous woman.  I will look at its background and printing history Sing samples of the different versions and end on a full performance 

In today’s podcast I will look at the Scottish ballad Clerk Saunders. I will show just what is known about the ballad and note its publishing history. I will sing samples of the known tunes and end on a full performance of the ballad.

In today’s podcast I will look at the Scottish song John of Hazelgreen and its related song Jock of Hazeldene. I will look at its known background and printing history. Sing samples of the different versions and end on a full performance 

In today’s podcast I will look at the song Sheep Crook and Black Dog also known as My Flora and I and Spread the Green Branches. I will look at its known background and printing history. Sing samples of the different versions and end on a full performance.

I today’s podcast I will look at the song The Female Highwayman also known as Sovay and Sylvia. I will explore its background and printing history, sing versions of the song and end on a full performance.

In today’s podcast I will look at the song Oxford City also known as Jealousy and Poison in a Glass of Wine. I will show just what is known about the ballad and note its publishing history. I will sing samples of the known tunes and end on a full performance of the ballad.

In today’s podcast I will look at night visiting songs that have a similar internal structure that is used to carry the narrative. I will look at their origins, where known, the printing history and sing samples of the tunes and text. I will end on a full performance of one of the songs

Today’s podcast looks at the ballad The Famous Flower of Serving-Men. A romantic tale of a young widow who changes her identity, and becomes a male servant to a king. When her true identity is discovered the king takes her for his bride. 

I will look at the ballads origin, its printing history and sing tunes linked to the ballad. I will end on a fill performance of the ballad.

In today podcast I will look at the popular Scottish song Bogie’s Bonny Belle. I will look at its origin, its publishing history and sing some samples of the song.  I will end the podcast with a look at the poem turned song Adieu to Bogieside

In today’s podcast I will look at the song Seventeen Come Sunday, a song of seduction by a soldier and a willing maiden. 

In today’s podcast I will look at the songs relating to General James Wolfe and the background to Battle of Quebec of 12 & 13 September 1759. I will look at the printing history of the songs, sing some samples of the songs and end on a full performance.

In today’s podcast I will be looking at one of the oldest noted traditional songs The Corpus Christi Carol. I will look at its background, its printing history and sing tunes associated with the song and end on a full performance of the song

Today’s podcast looks at the ballad Willie of Winsbury also known as Tom Barbery in the English and Irish versions. This is a song of seduction of a wealthy heiress by a servant man, which has a happy ending 

In today’s podcast I will look at the song The Lowlands of Holland, a tale of parted lovers, a shipwreck and loss. I will explore its background and printing history. Sing samples of the tunes associated with the song and end on a full performance.

Today I will be exploring the ballad Death and the Lady which tells of a meeting and conversation between Death and a wealthy lady. Death tells her she does not have long to live, the lady tries to buy more time. Death is not interested in wealth and the lady meets her fate.
I will look at its background and printing history. I will sing some examples of tunes associated with the ballad and end on a complete performance.

Today I will be examining the song Rambleaway. A song of a seducer and his encounter with a young woman he meets at a fair. I will look at the known printing history, sing some song examples and end on a full performance of the song

Today’s podcast looks at the ballad The Captain’s Apprentice and includes other songs about the mistreatment of sailors. I will look at the background to the songs, the printing history and sing some of the tunes linked to the songs. I will end the podcast with a full performance of one of the songs.

In today’s podcast I will look at the ballad Mary Hamilton also known as The Four Marys. I will look at the background to the ballad and show its printing history.

I will sing tunes linked to the Ballad and end on a full performance of the ballad

Today’s podcast looks at the popular Christian folk carol The Cherry Tree Carol and will include the lesser-known carol As Joseph was A-Walking. A tale of cherries, a marital tiff and supernatural intervention. I will sing samples of the tunes associated with the songs and end on a full performance

I will look at the songs that have the Bedlam asylum as its main location. I will examine the background to the songs and look at the printing history. 

In today’s podcast we have a tale of love that continues after death, until the lover’s ghost returns to ask for peace within the grave. I will sing excerpts of the tunes and end in a full performance

A young man tells of his life as a robber and highwayman and his eventual capture, trial, and his farewell. I will look at their known printing history and examine some of the references that are contained in the song. Examine the various versions, sing samples of the tunes and end on a full performance of the song.

Series 2 #3 Tam Lin This ballad must be the epitome of the classic British ballads with its tale of seduction, elfin magic,  rescue, and final curses from an angry Elfin Queen. 

Along the way I will sing samples of the tunes associated with the ballad and look at its background, printing history and the folklore behind the narrative. 

A condemned person stands on the gallows platform awaiting execution. He asks his relative for help but it is refused. Finally the lover brings a fee or a pardon.
The podcast explains the background to the song. Song versions are sung to provide samples of the different tunes associated with the song. It ends with a full performance.

A story of would-be seduction and impossible tasks. A look at the background and associated songs with sung examples, and a final performance by Caffrey McGurk Madge.