A Book of Old Ballads — Volume 4

This volume gathers a vivid cross‑section of centuries‑old folk songs, ranging from mournful Scottish laments to close‑knit English narratives. Each ballad is presented with minimal editorial interference, allowing the original dialect and cadence to shine through, while an introductory essay gives context for the oral tradition that birthed them.

Among the pieces, a plaintive lament titled “Edward, Edward” drifts in a haunting dialect, the speaker wrestling with loss and curses in a sea‑bound world. The anthology also revisits the tragic story of King Leir and his three daughters, offering a compact, lyrical retelling that echoes the themes of loyalty, false flattery, and exile that have resonated through the ages.

Listening to these verses feels like stepping into an ancient hearth, where the voices of shepherds, bards, and outcasts rise and fall with the rhythm of their time. The collection invites both scholars and casual listeners to savor the raw emotion and timeless storytelling woven into the fabric of early folk culture.