John Ashton. 1888. Modern Street Ballads. London: Chatto and Windus.
Kevin Shay: When we think of folk ballads, we tend to think of familiar classics like those found in the Child collection: songs that have been adapted, performed, and memorized for centuries, handed down through the generations. But as browsing through Modern Street Ballads will remind you, for every timeless “Barbara Allen” there were dozens of topical ditties hastily composed and soon forgotten. And for good reason. Many of the ballads you’ll find here feature awkward diction, clumsy rhyme, and dubious scansion. Others deal with highly specific and ephemeral events or trends. And yet, tossed-off hack jobs though some of these pieces may be, all of them provide a fascinating glimpse into the daily concerns of the average British citizen of the period. Get it: All sources.Search
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