Come hear about a sailor’s life
he had the sweetest girl
In happiness his trust he gave
as she seduced an earl
—
And every time he left for sea
she could enjoy in town
she sang and danced till midnight hour
then in debase went down
—
The sailor bought a diamond ring
surprising her at home
in joy he from the harbor ran
when on the seas he’d roamed
—
But he surprised her in the act
as she enjoyed in bed
she ended clutch his dagger’s hilt
in flood of blood fell dead
—
This song now ends in minor tune
as man in guilt now bends
he never overcame his deed
when in the noose he ends
Brigand Murdering a Woman by Francisco Goya
Today at dVerse FFA Tony learns us to do ballad. I choose to do the simplistic tetramter trimeter version, but read Tony’s Article and we can all start to sing tonight. Myself I choose to write a short murder ballad.
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Septmber 19, 2013
This was a very powerfull balad, although sad and bitter in its thematic. I liked your rhytm and flow, this is most certanly singable 😀
Ah.. would love to hear it sung.. my voice and instrumental skills are limited…
This has a strong sea shanty feel – even in the reversal of words for thymes–it all felt very authentic, Bjorn. k.
Ah.. those little reversals.. they are part of my style I think. Would have loved to do it with right dialect.
No worries, they fit here–they go with the sea chanty/almost nineteenth century aspect to it. They work. k.
Love it Bjorn – it definitely has the sea-shanty theme going. I wouldn’t worry about the reversals either; they are absolutely perfect for the form. And as has been said, I can definitely imagine a tune being writtten for this to be sung to … smiles
Thank you… Let’s gather at the seaside bar and sing 🙂
Gorgeous flow! I love a good murder ballad.
Ha, I would not doubt that many a sailor who returned from sea just a bit TOO early came upon wife in similar circumstance…..in those days before cell phones when the sailor would have given his wife a call saying, “Honey, I’m coming home early.” LOL. Nice use of the form. Bjorn.
oh heck… what a story… unfaithfulness is one of the toughest things to deal with…ugh… good job on the form sir
A powerful sea shanty, sir, and it sings itself. You tackled the form with verve & imagination. You seem to thrive on FFA challenges.
Mine’s about a hanging, as well. Ballads seem to lend to ending badly.
Wow. Dark and wonderful ballad!
Excellent Björn – such a sad ending for a sea-faring lad.
Anna :o]
ha. oy. got to watch playing when the beloved is away…as you will def get the point when they catch you…smiles…nicely done to form sir….
Dramatic ending to a lovely ballad ~ Good weaving of the story Bjorn ~
The theme fits so well with the shape of the form.
Too awful, a love betrayed! All the poetical justice of it all is wrapped into the song.
Lovers… she betrayed, he took revenge killing her and ending up dead himself. Classic! Great job… and you have a way with the words, making it seem quite easy to write but it isn’t so. 🙂
I sang as I read – how could I not – I really enjoyed your shanty style BR- thank you.
Oh, wow, Bjorn, bloody, and bloody good! Nice rhythm and flow for sure.
It has the rhythm of a ballad and tells a story..Good one!
Wow! Great story. Bravo.
Nice flow in this ballad bittersweet until the end..
A proper story for a ballad, Bjorn, and the rhythm and flow are pitch perfect. Very well done.
Masterful – you are indeed a bard!
Fantastic imagery.
In the tradition of the great tragic ballads I was brought up on!
wow 🙂 it’s hilarious. I mean, it’s so bitter and so truthfully-written, that it brought tears of laughter to my eyes. It rings perfectly true to the form, to the sailors’ rede… My favourite poetic form when I was a teenager. I dreamed of being able to write such ballads.
Really a dark piece. It gave me chills.