ROUD 51: The Unquiet Grave
Playlist and sources
Playlist:
In terms of research sources, this ballad gives us a lot to work with. Despite the relative simplicity of the story, it has captured the imagination of many a folk singer and scholar over the years. The above book being a prime example. It contains a thorough analysis of the folkoric elements of the song (along with several other similar revenant ballads involving ghosts and the undead), mentions The Unquiet grave 27 times. So, absolutely loads to go at, definitely one of those where I have to make some harsh decisions about what I can fit in the book. A sample of some of the sources below.
Links:
https://mainlynorfolk.info/lloyd/songs/theunquietgrave.html - Mainly Norfolk page
http://bluegrassmessengers.com/78-the-unquiet-grave.aspx - the Child texts
https://www.jstor.org/stable/4521181 - a 1941 article in Journal of the English Folk Dance and Song Society, Vol. 4, No. 2 (Dec., 1941) NOTE: you will need to set up a JSTOR account to read this but it is free and highly recommended as all the EFDSS magazines, and many more, are freely available there
https://www.jstor.org/stable/536946 - an extraordinary account from America that gives *very* anecdotal evidence that the ballad originates from the castration and subsequent death of William Shakespeare)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22376694/ - a 1983 Danish short film based on the story. I would dearly love to watch this - an opinion based on the two tantalising stills provided above - but I can't find it anywhere.
From “The Ballad Book” of John Jacob Niles (1861) - a fine example of the “sad woman” trope of ballad illustration:
Article from “Southern Folklore” magazine, 1967-12: Vol 31 Iss 4:
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