Ballads

Ballads were the poetry of the common people. As we will learn when we get to Chaucer, "serious" poetry was composed in French or Italian. This was the way for the commoners to record their stories, history, thoughts, and ideas. Since they were not able to write down their stories, it only made sense to put those words to music so they wouldn't be forgotten. The best ballads are of Scottish and/or Irish descent, and they mimic the highbrow poetry of the time.

In the 70s, ballads and ballad form returned to music with the help of such groups as Simon and Garfunkel. For example, here is a classic example of a Scottish ballad that is still commonly played today:

"Hey Jude" is an awesome example of a modern ballad. While you listen, think about our six criterion for evaluating ballads:

1. Impersonal (Who is talking? Is Jude the speaker?)

2. Concentrated (Does it limit itself to one storyline?)

3. Dramatic (Is there conflict implied?)

4. Ironic (Is there a twist in the song?)

5. Incantory (Do the lyrics repeat?)

6. Simple (Is the verse structure uncomplicated?)

Can you think of other modern ballads that follow the old fashioned format?