About this episode
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 Join the Folk FIles Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FolkFilesPodcast 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 SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TihjH0G_0H0