The Ballad has been described as a lyrical narrative of varying length that has an exact metrical structure and a liberal use of rhyme. Specific forms have been identified as (1) consisting of three 8-line stanzas followed by a 4-line envoi,* each ending in a 1-line refrain; and (2) a 4-line stanza consisting of fourteen iambic beat, known as a "fourteener." This form's beat is very like the beat of a human heart, and it has proved to be popular through the ages. The rhythm patterns most commonly found in ballads are shown to the right (with the "fourteener" identified as "B").

The origin of the ballad is lost in the distant mists of history, but some remain popular to this day. For example, "John Anderson, My Jo" is a ballad about growing old with one's true love. "Flow Gently, Sweet Afton" is a gentle ballad. Both are included in beginner books for musicians. "Rob Roy" is about a forcible abduction by the famous Rob Roy's son, and "The Lady of Kenmure" is based on the aftermath of a battle in 1715.

*An Envoi is the final verse designed to point out the moral or message, and usually addresses the individual to whom the ballad/poem is written.

To locate books in a library, combine key words or search by subject. For example: [keyword] = (concepts I and II) or s=ballads, Scottish

Books about (Scottish) Ballads are generally shelved together based on the focus of the topic, but all ballad books are not shelved together. Here are selected library call numbers where ballad books can be found.

Blackie, John Stuart Scottish Song: Its Wealth, Wisdom and Social Significance. Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons 1889. 1^st edition. Text and music scores for many ballads arranged by subject. Excellent compact source. SHAW catalog nos. 478.2 and T102. Call no. SHAW ML3655 B62 1889

Chambers, Robert. The Romantic Scottish Ballads: their epoch and authorship. Folcroft, Pa.: Folcroft Library Editions, 1976. Call no.: Strozier PR8580 .C45 1976.

Child, Francis James. The English and Scottish Popular Ballads. Boston: 1886-98. 5 v. The most extensive and respected collector of Scottish ballads. Volume I has biography, ballads with copious notes for each, additions and corrections of previous editions; Volumes 2-5 have more ballads with notes plus a glossary of over 100 pages, music scores and lists of music collections, over 50 pages of bibliography. SHAW catalog no. S494.2, Call no. SHAW PR 1181 C5

Cunningham, Allan. The Songs of Scotland, Ancient and Modern. London: Printed for J. Taylor, 1825. 4 v. Colorful prose. Volume I: excellent history, Robert Bruce through Reformation, comparison Scottish/English Ballads, lives of balladeers, stories behind the ballads. Volumes 2-4: more ballads with background story for each, history of singing and printing of ballad. SHAW catalog no. 1625-26. Call no. SHAW PR 8661 L8 C8

Elliot, William Fitzwilliam. The Trustworthiness of Border Ballads, as Exemplified by "Jamie Telfer i' the Fair Dodhead" and other Ballads. Edinburgh: William Blackwood, 1906. Very scholarly studies using historic chronology and geography as well as literary criticism to establish origin of four ballads: Otterburn, Chevy Chase, Kinmont Willie, Jame Telfer. Call no. DA880 .B72 E5 Shelved in Strozier subbasement.

Hustvedt, Sigurd Bernhard. Ballad Books and Ballad Men; Raids and Rescues in Britain, America, and the Scandinavian North since 1800. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1930. "The Grundtvig Child index of English and Scottish popular ballads". Call no. Strozier PN1376 H78 1930

Ashton, John A. A Ballad of the Scottisshe Kynge. The Earliest known Printed English Ballad. Detroit: Singing Tree Press, 1969. Not held by FSU Libraries

National Songs and Some Ballads,collected by Harold Bolton. London: Archibald Constable & Co., 1908. 22 Scottish and highland ballads including Skye-Boat Song, For Charlie, The Isle of the Heather, Macintosh's Lament. SHAW Catalog no. S233 Call no. SHAW M 1738 .N37 1908

Brander, Michael. Scottish & Border Battles & Ballads. New York: C. N. Potter, 1976. Interesting stories of ballads--chronology chart of battles, places, victors, dates, maps, tunes, descriptions of battlefield locales in 1975. SHAW catalog no. W187.1 Call no. SCOT ML3655.B7 1976.

Buchan, Peter. Ancient Ballads and Songs of the North of Scotland: Hitherto Unpublished, with Explanatory Notes. Edinburgh: Printed for W. & D. Laing, and J. Stevenson, 1828. 2 v. Volume I, introduction discusses history and preservation of national character, sources of ballads, northern Scotland; the ballads with notes at the end of each volume. Call no. SHAW PR1181 .B9 1828

Carlyle, Mary Carlyle Aitken. Scottish Song, A Selection of the Choicest Lyrics of Scotland. London: Macmillan, 1874. Winnowing of all the best ballads, exclusive of Burns; ballads with notes organized by serious love songs, social and drinking songs, comic and joyful love-songs, and Jacobite and war songs, glossary. SHAW Catalog no. S326 Call no. SCOT PR8661 .L8 C3

Cunningham, Allan. The Songs of Scotland, Ancient and Modern; with an Introduction and Notes, Historical and Critical, and Characters of the Lyric Poets. London: Printed for J. Taylor, 1825. 4 Vols. SHAW Catalog no 1625-28 Call no. SHAW PR 8661.L8 C8 1975.

Eyre-Todd, George. Scottish Ballad Poetry. Glasgow: W. Moore & Co., 1893. Preface discusses ballads' expression of Scottish character; similarity of North European ballads; history and subjects of ballads; notes on various versions.Call no. SHAW PR8655 E93

Ford, Robert. Auld Scots Ballants. Paisley, London: Alexander Gardner, 1889. Not intended to be comprehensive, but popular ballads only, at a popular price, notes on each regarding origin. Compact, easy reading, not much background material. SHAW Catalog no S945 Call no. SHAW PR1181 A93 1889.

Ford, Robert. The Harp of Perthshire. London: Alexander Gardner, 1893. SHAW Catalog no. S946 Call no. SHAW PR8691 P4F6

The Songs of Scotland Adapted to their Appropriate Melodies. Edinburgh, Wood &Co., 1856. 3 Vols in 1. SHAW Catalog no. W657.13 Call no. SHAW M1746 G74 S62 1856

Grierson, Elizabeth W. Children's Tales from Scottish Ballads. London: Adam and Charles Black, 1906. Illus. By Allan Stewart. SHAW catalog no. W679 Call no. SHAW PZ8.1 G7 Ch 1906

Bliss, Douglas Percy. Border Ballads. London: H. Milford, Oxford University Press, 1925. 1^st ed. Ballads brought together to recite for WWI soldiers, selected by typical Scottish characteristics: simple structure, vivid dramatic presentation, poignant motive. Discussions of art poetry/popular poetry; Bliss woodcuts; beautiful presentation. SHAW Catalog no. 159 Call no. SHAW PR 1181 .B65

Herd, David. Ancient and Modern Scotish Songs, Heroic Ballads, Etc. New ed. Edinburgh: Scottish Academy Press, 1973 reprint of 1776. 2v. Ballads by theme, including fragments: heroic, sentimental songs and love songs, comic and humorous songs. Call no. SHAW PR1181 H47 1973.

MacGregor, George. The Collected Writings of Dougal Graham, 'Skellat' Bellman of Glasgow. Detroit: Singing Tree, 1968. Reprint of 1883 ed. 2 Vols. Volume I--a reprint of Graham's long epic poem about the Rebellion, biography of Graham. Volume 2--chapbook prose. Call no. SHAW PR 8624 G7 1968 also Call no. STROZIER PR 8624 G7 1968

MacQueen, John. Ballattis of Luve. Edinburgh: University Press, <1970>. A purist attempt to reverse effect of Reformation on Scottish culture by collecting its song. Call no. SCOT PR 1184 .M224

Muir, Willa. Living with Ballads. London: Hogarth Press, 1965 Mostly about ballads, few complete; children's games; historic background; themes; effects of Calvinism and Reformation; Post-reformation. SHAW catalogue no. W 1473.4 Call no. SHAW ML3655 M85 1965a

Scott, Walter, Sir. Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border: Consisting of Historical and Romantic Ballads, Collected in the Southern Counties of Scotland: with a few of Modern Date, Founded upon Local Tradition. New York: Crowell, 1931? Volume I--T. F. Henderson's preface; history of rise and fall of the ballad form; original compositions imitating ballads and improvements: by poets of ancient ballads; Scott's appreciation and usage of the ballad form. Scott's introductions to 1830 and 1802 editions about collection of ballads, history of Scotland related to the ballads, comparison of Scottish and English. Then the ballads, overlapping into next four volumes, with extensive notes by Scott on each. Call no. SCOT PR1181 S4 1931

Songs of Scotland. Royal Ed. A Collection of One Hundred and Ninety Songs.. Music ed. by J. Pittman and Colin Brown: poetry edited by Charles Mackay. London: Boosey: New York: W.A. Pond, <1877-78?> SHAW catalogue no. T830.6 Call no. SHAW M1746 S65 1877

Bronson, Bertrand Harris. The Traditional Tunes of the Child Ballads. Princeton, Princeton University Press, 1959-72. 4 Vols. music. Each ballad preceded by historical notes. Call no. MUS ML 3650 .B82 1959

Glen, John. Early Scottish Melodies: Including Examples From MSS, and Early Printed Works, Along with a Number of Comparative Tunes, Notes on Former Annotators, English and other Claims, and Biographical Notices, etc. New York: AMS Press, 1976. Call no. SCOT ML 3655 G55 1976

Flanders, Helen Hartness. Ancient Ballads Traditionally Sung in New England. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, 1960-65. 4 Vols. v.1 Child Ballads 1-51 Music SHAW catalogue no. S929.1-4 Call no. SHAW M1629.F58 A5

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