Bill's Broadsides

Stories and songs

Blog Links

» Karen Pillsworth's Web site » The Woody Guthrie Archives

I've been asked to play a short set of music at the Gloversville Public Library next week. I will be the "opening act" for a storyteller, so I figure I had better prepare some story-songs to set the mood.

I've always had an affinity for songs that have a strong narrative element, especially folk songs strong on character, theme and imagery -- the Dust Bowl ballads of Woody Guthrie, Irish pub songs, old-time Appalachian murder ballads, rollicking sea shanties, comic talking blues ...

A song that tells a story does more for me than most of the music that gets played on mainstream radio these days. The only thing a pop song needs to get airtime and sell records is a strong hook -- a catchy chorus or memorable bass riff, for example.

A good ballad, on the other hand, can pack all the emotional punch of a novel in a few short lines.  (Wikipedia offers some interesting thoughts on what constitutes a ballad.)

Since Wednesday's event is going to be geared toward families with children, I probably won't sing too many songs about stealing (e.g., 'Jesse James"), murder (e.g. "John Hardy"), gambling (e.g., "St. James Infirmary") or suicide (e.g., "Goodnight, Irene.") But I've already been asked to play "Frankie and Albert," which is chock-full of booze, adultery, homicide, crooked judges and all sorts of other unpleasantness. I'll have to think about it. Not every song can be about sunshiney-happy things like lawn gnomes. :)

  

At any rate, the event will be at 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12, at the Gloversville Public Library on East Fulton Street. Come on out, and we'll try to entertain you (or at least feed you cookies).