This isn’t my favorite Nick Cave murder ballad, but it’s a damned good one, and since he released a whole album of them, I feel like it deserves the spotlight. I am especially fond of murder ballads sung in the first person, and especially grateful to those who continue the age-old tradition. I may spotlight another modern murder ballad slinger next week, then perhaps I’ll dig back into the past again.
Another classic murder ballad, probably the oldest recorded version of this song. I mentioned the Nick Cave updated version in a recent post about watching the film 20,000 Days On Earth. I decided to present the Dick Justice version here for this week.
Also known as Love, Henry, or Young Hunting, or Earl Richard, or The Proud Girl. May slso be related to Young Benjie, Child Waters, and The False Lover Won Back, and may share the same origin. Goes back to the early 1800s in Glasgow, according to one source.
I think I like Bob Dylan’s version the best.