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cemaphonic

(4,138 posts) Tue Apr 28, 2015, 01:04 AM Apr 2015

Murder Ballads! [View all]

Been awhile since we had a good murder ballad thread, and it's one of my favorite song categories.

Gillian Welch - Caleb Meyer - You have to be a pretty damn good songwriter to write a song about murder and attempted rape and have it be this catchy and singable:

Lightning Hopkins - Bring Me My Shotgun - This one is neat because it's really menacing and spooky, but has a little twist at the end that totally re-contextualizes the song:

Fairport Convention - Matty Groves - Amazing electric folk version of a really old traditional ballad:

I've got loads more, but I don't want to hog all the good ones right out of the gate. So post some good old-fashioned wholesome violence and mayhem.

66 replies

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Highlight:

Murder Ballads! [View all] cemaphonic Apr 2015 OP

This was one of my favorite songs of 1968 Art_from_Ark Apr 2015 #1

The Kingston Trio - Tom Dooley pinboy3niner Apr 2015 #2

Nice choices! Here's my favorite... countryjake Apr 2015 #3

Marty Robbins - El Paso pinboy3niner Apr 2015 #4

... countryjake Apr 2015 #5

Lloy Price - Stagger Lee Optical.Catalyst Apr 2015 #6

For me, the one true Stagger Lee will always be Mississippi John Hurt's version cemaphonic Apr 2015 #18

Dave Van Ronk's version of "Frankie and Johnny" countryjake Apr 2015 #7

Nick Cave - Where The Wild Roses Grow kentauros Apr 2015 #8

His "Murder Ballads" murielm99 Apr 2015 #24

The Shoulders - Trashman Shoes kentauros Apr 2015 #9

Dixie Chicks - Goodbye Earl pinboy3niner Apr 2015 #10

^^^ second this discntnt_irny_srcsm Apr 2015 #26

That was my choice AwakeAtLast Apr 2015 #45

Mac the Knife JustABozoOnThisBus Apr 2015 #11

Not murder, exactly, but very brutal ... JustABozoOnThisBus Apr 2015 #12

I'm not sure you can murder the anthropomorphic personification of alchohol, cemaphonic Apr 2015 #30

Here are a few... Tom_Foolery Apr 2015 #13

Long Black Veil has to be among the most covered murder ballads ever. cemaphonic Apr 2015 #29

Absolutely... Tom_Foolery Apr 2015 #35

I had Cash sign his album that contained his version Tom Ripley Apr 2015 #57

That's great... Tom_Foolery Apr 2015 #59

Down By the River cyberswede Apr 2015 #14

The Ballad of Hollis Brown cyberswede Apr 2015 #15

Country Death Song cyberswede Apr 2015 #16

Oh yeah, that's a dark one. cemaphonic Apr 2015 #19

Yeah - depressing... cyberswede Apr 2015 #20

Polly Von cyberswede Apr 2015 #17

It's only a matter of time... lame54 Apr 2015 #21

Heh cemaphonic Apr 2015 #22

"Copacabana" - Barry Manilow LeftinOH Apr 2015 #23

"Billie and Bonnie" by Steve Earle. There's a murder plus much more. argyl Apr 2015 #25

Ah yes, the subgenre of "famous spree killer" songs cemaphonic Apr 2015 #32

Two from Warren discntnt_irny_srcsm Apr 2015 #27

Neil Young "Cortez The Killer" Dont call me Shirley Apr 2015 #28

Long Black Veil. Bout time someone wrote one for Trayvon Martin, Freddie Gray, Michael Brown, etc Hoyt Apr 2015 #31

The Buoys... pipi_k Apr 2015 #33

Okkervil River - For Real Cheese Sandwich Apr 2015 #34

A couple of my faves hifiguy Apr 2015 #36

Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts struggle4progress Apr 2015 #37

The Irish ballad struggle4progress Apr 2015 #38

White House Blues struggle4progress Apr 2015 #39

Ballad of Jesse James struggle4progress Apr 2015 #40

Ballad Of Bonnie & Clyde struggle4progress Apr 2015 #41

Famous Flower Of Serving Men struggle4progress Apr 2015 #42

The Highwayman The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2015 #43

My favorite five Mike Daniels Apr 2015 #44

Tom Waits - Murder in the Red Barn cemaphonic Apr 2015 #46

"Duncan and Brady" and "Ella Speed" countryjake Apr 2015 #47

The Holy Modal Rounders "Bully of the Town" countryjake Apr 2015 #48

Used to Love Her - Guns and Roses discntnt_irny_srcsm Apr 2015 #49

and who could forget Moby Grapes 2nd. album ? olddots Apr 2015 #50

Two Gallants have some good ones melman Apr 2015 #51

Hurray For The Riff Raff - "The Body Electric" greendog Apr 2015 #52

There has always been someone in my family dinger130 Apr 2015 #53

It is a classic Tom Ripley Apr 2015 #58

The Beatles - Maxwell's Silver Hammer LiberalElite Apr 2015 #54

That Gillian Welch song, Caleb Meyer is pretty amazing! greendog Apr 2015 #55

Welch's lyrics are loaded with little references and nods to older music cemaphonic Apr 2015 #60

I've only recently started listening to her music. greendog Apr 2015 #62

She's easily one of the top 3 songwriters of the last 20 years. cemaphonic Apr 2015 #64

I got to see Tim & Mollie play live several times! greendog May 2015 #66

"Cecil's got his new piece. He cocks and shoots between three and four..." Tom Ripley Apr 2015 #56

Carole King's "Smackwater Jack"... Tom_Foolery Apr 2015 #61

I'm Bad Like Jesse James BronxBoy Apr 2015 #63

Neko Case: Make your Bed Joe Shlabotnik Apr 2015 #65