Murder Folk Playlist

Murder ballads, traditional folk songs about violent crimes, or to a modern, genre-bending style of music with dark lyrical themes. Both traditions often feature stories of murder, betrayal, and tragic events, with the older form focusing on narrative ballads and the modern interpretation blending folk with elements of punk, rock, or gothic music. This Murder Folk playlist contains it all:

Murder ballads
Traditional form: These are traditional folk songs, with roots in the British Isles, that tell a story of a violent crime, often a murder.

Themes: They frequently feature themes of betrayal and violence, especially between lovers, and are sometimes inspired by real-life events.

Perspectives: The song can be sung from the perspective of the victim, the murderer, or an unnamed third party.

Examples: “Pretty Polly,” “Tom Dooley,” and “The Banks of the Ohio” are classic examples.

Modern “murder folk”
Contemporary style: This is a more recent musical style that takes the dark, narrative lyrical tradition of murder ballads and applies it to modern folk, punk, or rock music.

Atmosphere: Artists in this style often incorporate dark, gothic, or Southern gothic elements into their sound.
Examples: Artists like Amigo the Devil and The Devil Makes Three are frequently mentioned as examples of this style.

Other artists: Other artists associated with this sound or themes include Bridge City Sinners, Harley Poe, and Heathen Apostles.