Folk Music can be just instrumental or can tell of a story in its lyrics.

Marty Robbins. “Big Iron”

Shown to the world in 1959, this western ballad became one of the best 100 of all time. Written by Marty Robbins, the story is of an outlaw named Texas Red, who had killed 20 people. A man to revival Texas Red came into town, an Arizona ranger. He would be taking Texas Red. It  tells of a western showdown, the two 20 feet apart. the ranger dropped Texas red to the dirt. The rangers draw was faster then any and Texas Red was too cocky.

“Texas Red had not cleared leather when a bullet fairly ripped, and the ranger’s aim was deadly, with the big iron on his hip,”

 

The High Kings. “Red Is The Rose”

The original composter is lost in time, but this song has stuck around, making a revival with the high kings (the boys shown above) and other Irish folk singers. The song is a love story, the two in love faithfully for most of the song, but at the end, they seem to have been separated. the man sounds very sad. he still loves her very much and still finds her to be his love and more beautiful then anything in the world. I believe that she died and this song is about the mans love that goes on.

“‘Tis all for the loss of my bonny Irish lass That my heart is breaking forever”

 

Harve Presnell. “Paint your wagon” song “They Call The Wind Mariah”

This is a number from the musical “Paint your wagon” but during the folk revival many thought it was a folk song from years back. I can see why, the story is tearful, and easy to sing too, reminding many of campfire ballads. The story centers around men missing their girls while mining. The singer talks of how the fire and rain have names as well but he focused on the wind, wanting his girl to be blown back into his arms

“Mariah, Mariah blow my love to me”

 

John Hartford. “I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow”

originally titled the “farewell Song” in 1913. This traditional folk tune sings of the hardships of a man, but the back beat is very fun and welcoming, contradicting itself. This song may have been someone’s or it might have just been in the floating sound with no ties down, like many folk songs. over the 100 plus years its been in the public eye it has gone through many different recording sessions and lyric changes. In the movie “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” the three men cover it and become famous through the land. that is the version I have posted above. Please if you haven’t seen this movie, treat yourself to it ASAP.

“I am a man of constant sorrow, I’ve seen trouble all my days”

 

Ghost Quartet. “Any Kind Of Dead Person”

A wonderfully creepy modern folk story, or I suppose… 4 stories intertwined and accompanied with strange music played on even stranger instruments. this is how I imagine bards telling stories, there is even a whiskey break in the middle or the quartet and the audience. this quartets music is inspired by many different traditional folk songs. Once again the back beat is fun and enjoyable while the singer talks about what kind of dead person shed rather be when she dies. she goes through many incarnations of ghouls but always comes back to being a ghost. I can hear this around the campfire late at night. check out this musical/Quartet for a story of death.

“And if you could be a dead guy, what kind of dead guy would you be?”