The 10 most disturbing folk songs in history?

[johncorrigan]

Well, here's the BBC list:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/articles/8beeaac5-064c-4406-9e85-d42cebf9a53b

...I'm sure there are other suggestions out there.

[Padraig]

No sex or politics here!
But the death of a fisherman at sea. A song for children - I taught it myself in the distant past John, but as a language exercise. I hope the children gave a thought to the words, a recurring theme around the coast of Donegal even today.

Baidin Fheilimi Phelimy's Little Boat.

PS Sorry no link. Does not work for me. I'll try later. Meanwhile you tube has some versions if you want to look.

http://songsinirish.com/

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The Golden Vanity
Admiral Benbow
Little Sir William

[LeMartinPecheur]

How about The Twa Corbies?

[Mary Chambers]

The headmistress of my little infant school was a semi-professional singer who sometimes sang folk songs on the wireless. She used to sing Lord Randall to us, which I found disturbing but completely enthralling. What were those speckled eels that poisoned him? I though he had been eating snakes. I'm not sure how appropriate this was for six-year-olds, but she certainly gave me a lifelong love of singing and songs.

Apart from what we sang at school in the Olden Days, my knowledge of folk songs mostly comes from Britten and Vaughan Williams. I would certainly echo EA's choice of Little Sir William, and also perhaps The Bonny Earl of Moray. Why all these aristocrats?

[LeMartinPecheur]

The Bonny Earl of Moray.

Not forgetting his companion, Lady Mondagreen!

(She perished with him of course.)

[teamsaint]

Widecombe Fair.

is a rather desolate thing, though very beautiful.

( Remind my why somebody at the BBC is using resource to do this?!)

[Mary Chambers]

Not forgetting his companion, Lady Mondagreen!

(She perished with him of course.)

Thank you for the laugh

[jean]

How about The Twa Corbies?

Or the Three Ravens.

[cloughie]

I'd like to offer 3

1 Death of Queen Jane (On Joan Baez:5)
2 Bruton Town (On Pentangle:Sweet Child)
3 Matty Groves (On Fairport Convention:Liege & Lief)

Sir Patrick Spens on Fairport's Full House is not exactly pleasant.

[johncorrigan]

( Remind my why somebody at the BBC is using resource to do this?!)

Getting us fired up for the BBC Rad2 Folk Awards I imagine, sainty.
Unthanks - Patience Kershaw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmhACB1ZPQM

[Beef Oven!]

I can only think of two, but the first one is, without question, the most disturbing folksong of all time.

1. Mr Fox - Mr Fox
2. Matty Groves - Fairport Convention

[DracoM]

The Great Silkie of Siule Skerri

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Nursery rhymes are extremely disturbing:

Jack and Jill: potentially serious head injury;
Oranges and Lemons: beheading;
Sing a Song of Sixpence: permanent serious injury by a bird;
Three Blind Mice: hideous cruelty to animals;
Ding, Dong, Bell: ditto
The Lady that Loved a Swine: well - let's not go there

[MrGongGong]

The Lady that Loved a Swine: well - let's not go there

I thought politics was banned?
And I didn't know he was a she now