Traditional Ballads: “Lord Baseman”



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As folk songs are passed through generations and across cultures, texts sometimes change, perhaps reflecting different styles, simple misunderstandings, or some combination of the two. With ballads, the result is often a shift in plot, the introduction of different characters, or a change of names. In this example, Nimrod Workman of West Virginia sings the story of “Lord Baseman,” whose counterpart in the British Isles, where this ballad originated, is more commonly known as “Lord Bateman.”

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Folk Music; Ballad

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