This episode of Folk Files discusses songs involving infanticide. “The Well Below the Valley” and “The Cruel Mother” stand at the center of this heartbreaking voyage through historical records, Scandinavian folklore, and murder ballads.
Host: Olivia Harding
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Special Thanks To: Aaron J. Morton
Note: Because it’s always true in folk songs, when I refer to pregnant people in general, I say “women”. However, the difficulties I discuss (postpartum maladies, access to medical care, etc.) affect people of all genders.
Musical excerpts:
ARTIST: Christy Moore
WORK: Well Below the Valley
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylZGw7tfAHI
ARTIST: Polly Paulusma
WORK: The Maid and the Palmer
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUILSHtxYWI
ARTIST: Sähköpaimen
WORK: Mataleena på Källebro
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAk_knoRDdE
ARTIST: Brass Monkey
WORK: The Maid and the Palmer
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIeZ953yUc4
ARTIST: Hack-Poets Guild
WORK: Cruel Mother
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pzvqeBHsSg
ARTIST: Alasdair Roberts
WORK: The Cruel Mother
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIOANdvjRqY
ARTIST: Bryndís Sveinbjörnsdóttir
WORK: Móðir mín í kví, kví
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtKTkSMO5Us
ARTIST: Shirley Collins
WORK: The Cruel Mother
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a3DuJrjwts
ARTIST: Ewan MacColl
WORK: Sheath and Knife
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=787wXkYcdHY
ARTIST: Nick Hart
WORK: Lucy Wan