This episode of Folk Files looks at a family of songs where the main character “dies for love.” In particular, I explore “The Butcher Boy,” a song with American, Irish, and English versions. The versions vary drastically: they swap out characters, drop details, and change the reasoning behind the narrator’s decisions. I investigate what effect these changes have on the listener and what lessons we can draw from those effects.
Host: Olivia Harding
Check out more from Pollyanna: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Rgyvnw9WrAm20MhlS2kyp?si=irIKZtNOTFaZWDOt9mh0cA
Special thanks to: Aaron J. Morton
Support Folk Files: https://www.patreon.com/c/FolkFilesPodcast
*This episode of Folk Files was recorded on the road. Apologies for any lapses in quality.*
Musical excerpts:
ARTIST: Alisa Marie
WORK: O’Carolan’s Cup
SOURCE: https://youtu.be/zrBwqFco0Xs?si=-SdsYnEWGiD5SnFO
ARTIST: Sarah Makem
WORK: The Butcher Boy
SOURCE: https://youtu.be/x_mtUaBHWCE?si=tBXVy9ELCV9dECgh
ARTIST: Derek and Hazel Sarjeant
WORK: A Sailor Coming Home on Leave
SOURCE: https://youtu.be/e91Ug-CAjAc?si=sMcd-NpQC-FQmNSL
ARTIST: Music the Gathering
WORK: Johnny Jump Up
SOURCE: https://www.musicthegathering.com/store/lvl-3-digital-album-esexe
ARTIST: Frank Profitt
WORK: Morning Fair
SOURCE: https://youtu.be/wdyO1890Zpc?si=1esdsYhrRNWTg7zD
ARTIST: Sam Lee
WORK: Over Yonders Hill
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2jcdbFRRYc
ARTIST: The Kings of Calicutt
WORK: Sheffield Park
SOURCE: https://youtu.be/o1lDKhJd6Pw?si=XWyn9hQQ3ImN2PRq
ARTIST: Bellowhead
WORK: Cold Blows the Wind
SOURCE: https://youtu.be/WvuxL8UQiLQ?si=Sdr7Zz7yUVEXi7zg
ARTIST: Jean Ritchie
WORK: Go Dig My Grave
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGrcOqcbzYk
ARTIST: The Clancy Brothers
WORK: The Butcher Boy
SOURCE: https://youtu.be/WMc8QSxZe_M?si=PIv8GZyRL_1vkSRD
ARTIST: Buell Kazee
WORK: Butcher’s Boy
SOURCE: https://youtu.be/lwSJoMNRGuI?si=fehdH-zflcTkTbY2
ARTIST: Pollyanna
WORK: Railroad Boy
SOURCE: https://pollyanna.bandcamp.com/album/man-time-deluxe-edition
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