> Folk Music > Songs > Index of Child Ballads

Index of Child Ballads

This is a list of Child Ballads featured on this site. It is automagically generated from the title lines in the site’s song pages.

References numbers are given to:

• Steve Roud, Folk Song Index (London, Vaughan Williams Memorial Library),
• Francis James Child, The English & Scottish Popular Ballads (1882-98, reprinted New York: Dover, 1965, reprinted Northfield: Loomis House Press, 2001-2011),
• Patrick Shuldham-Shaw, Emily B. Lyle (editors), The Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection Volumes 1-8 (Aberdeen University Press, Mercat Press, 1981-2002).

For a list of all known recordings of Child ballads see Dan Nedrud’s Child Ballad Database (CBDB).

> Folk Music > Songs > Child Ballads

• Riddles Wisely Expounded / The Devil’s Nine Questions / Juniper, Gentle and Rosemary / Bow Down to the Bonny Broom / Lay the Bent to the Bonny Broom / The Three Sisters (Roud 161; Child 1)
• The Elfin Knight / Scarborough Fair / Whittingham Fair / Rosemary Lane (Roud 12; Child 2; G/D 2:329)
• The Fause Knight Upon the Road / False Knight on the Road (Roud 20; Child 3)
• Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight / The Outlandish Knight / Sir John / False Lover John / May Colven / Castle by the Sea (Roud 21; Child 4; G/D 2:225; Henry H163)
• Willie’s Lady (Roud 220; Child 6; G/D 2:346)
• Earl Brand / The Douglas Tragedy (Roud 23; Child 7; G/D 2:220)
• The Fair Flower of Northumberland (Roud 25; Child 9; G/D 6:1149)
• The Twa Sisters / The Two Sisters / The Bows of London / The Wind and Rain / The Berkshire Tragedy / Binnorie / Minorie (Roud 8; Child 10; G/D 2:213)
• The Cruel Brother / The Three Knights / The Rose and the Lily (Roud 26; Child 11)
• Lord Randall / Henry My Son / What Had You for Supper / Poisoned Peas / Buried in Kilkenny (Roud 10; Child 12; G/D 2:209; Henry H814)
• Edward / My Son David / Henry / What Put the Blood? (Roud 200; Child 13; TYG 35)
• The Bonnie Banks of Fordie / The Bonnie Banks of Airdrie / Babylon (Roud 27; Child 14; G/D 2:199)
• Sheath and Knife (Roud 3960; Child 16)
• Hind Horn (Roud 28; Child 17; G/D 5:1022)
• Sir Lionel / The Jovial Hunter of Bromsgrove / Bold Sir Rylas / Rackabello / Wild Hog in the Woods (Roud 29; Child 18)
• King Orfeo / Orfeo / Young Orphy (Roud 136; Child 19)
• The Cruel Mother / Greenwood Sidey / Fine Flowers in the Valley / The Lady of York (Roud 9; Child 20; G/D 2:193; TYG 73)
• The Maid and the Palmer / The Well Below the Valley (Roud 2335; Child 21)
• Stephen (Roud 3963; Child 22)
• Judas (Roud 3964; Child 23)
• The Banks of Green Willow / The Green Banks of Yarrow / Bonnie Annie (Roud 172; Child 24; G/D 6:1225)
• Willie’s Lyke-Wake / If My Love Loves Me / Amang the Blue Flowers and the Yellow (Roud 30; Child 25; G/D 4:843)
• The Three Ravens (Roud 5; Child 26)
• Twa Corbies / Two Ravens (Roud 5; Child 26)
• Whummil Bore (Roud 3722; Child 27)
• The Boy and the Mantle (Roud 3961; Child 29)
• King Henry (Roud 3967; Child 32)
• Kempy Kay / King Knapperty (Roud 32; Child 33; G/D 7:1505)
• Kemp Owyne / Kemp Owen (Roud 3912, 3176; Child 34)
• Alison Gross / Alison Cross (Roud 3212; Child 35)
• The Laily Worm and the Mackerel of the Sea (Roud 3968; Child 36)
• Thomas the Rhymer / True Thomas (Roud 219; Child 37)
• The Wee Wee Man (Roud 2865; Child 38)
• Tam Lin (Roud 35; Child 39; G/D 2:330)
• The Queen of Elfan’s Nourice / Elf Call (Roud 3723; Child 40; G/D 2:328)
• Hind Etin / Young Hastings (Roud 33; Child 41; G/D 2:331)
• Clerk Colven / Clerk Colvill (Roud 147; Child 42)
• The Broomfield Hill / The Broomfield Wager / A Wager, a Wager (Roud 34; Child 43; G/D 2:322; Henry H135)
• The Two Magicians (Roud 1350; Child 44; G/D 2:334)
• King John and the Bishop / King John and the Abbot of Canterbury (Roud 302; Child 45; G/D 2:281)
• Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship / Song of the Riddles (Roud 36; Child 46; G/D 4:842; Henry H681)
• Proud Lady Margaret / The Knicht of Archerdale (Roud 37; Child 47; G/D 2:336)
• Death of Young Andrew (Roud 6740; Child 48)
• The Two Brothers / Two Pretty Boys / The Rolling of the Stones (Roud 38; Child 49)
• The Bonny Hind (Roud 205; Child 50)
• Lizie Wan / Lucy Wan / Fair Lizzie (Roud 234; Child 51)
• The King’s Dochter Lady Jean / Fair Rosie Ann / Queen Jane (Roud 39; Child 52; G/D 7:1395)
• Lord Bateman / Young Beichan (Roud 40; Child 53L; G/D 5:1023; Henry H470)
• The Cherry Tree Carol / As Joseph Was A-Walking (Roud 453; Child 54; G/D 2:327)
• The Carnal and the Crane (Roud 306; Child 55)
• Herod and the Cock / King Herod and the Cock / King Pharim (Roud 306; Child 55)
• Dives and Lazarus (Roud 477; Child 56)
• Brown Robyn’s Confession (Roud 3882; Child 57)
• Sir Patrick Spens (Roud 41; Child 58; G/D 1:17)
• Sir Aldingar (Roud 3969; Child 59)
• Sir Cawline / Sir Colvin (Roud 479; Child 61)
• Fair Annie / Rosanna (Roud 42; Child 62; G/D 6:1161; Henry H126)
• Child Waters / Fair Ellen / Fair Margaret (Roud 43; Child 63; G/D 6:1229)
• Fair Janet (Roud 44; Child 64; G/D 6:1100)
• Lady Maisry / The Burning / Bonnie Susie Cleland (Roud 45; Child 65)
• Glasgerion / Glenkindie / Jack Orion (Roud 145; Child 67)
• Young Hunting / Earl Richard / Love Henry / The Proud Girl (Roud 47; Child 68)
• Clerk Saunders (Roud 3855; Child 69)
• Willie and Lady Maisry / William and Lady Marjorie (Roud 198; Child 70)
• The Clerk’s Twa Sons o’ Owsenford (Roud 3902; Child 72; G/D 8:1931)
• Lord Thomas and Fair Eleanor / Lord Thomas and Fair Annet / The Dun Broon Bride (Roud 4; Child 73; G/D 2:212)
• Fair Margaret and Sweet William / Lady Margaret and Sweet William (Roud 253; Child 74; G/D 2:337)
• Lord Lovel (Roud 48; Child 75; G/D 6:1232)
• The Lass of Roch Royal / Lord Gregory / Maid of Aughrim (Roud 49; Child 76; G/D 6:1226)
• Sweet William’s Ghost / Lady Margaret and Sweet William (Roud 50; Child 77)
• The Unquiet Grave / Cold Blows the Wind / One True Love (Roud 51; Child 78)
• The Wife of Usher’s Well (Roud 196; Child 79)
• Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard / Matty Groves (Roud 52; Child 81)
• The Bonny Birdy (Roud 3972; Child 82)
• Child Maurice / Child Morris / Gil Morice / Bill Norrie (Roud 53; Child 83; G/D 2:214)
• Barbara Allen / Barbary Allen / Barbary Ellen (Roud 54; Child 84; G/D 6:1193; Henry H236)
• Lady Alice / George Collins (Roud 147; Child 85)
• Young Benjie (Roud 3911; Child 86)
• Prince Robert / Lord Abore and Mary Flynn / Harry Saunders (Roud 55; Child 87)
• Young Johnstone (Roud 56; Child 88; G/D 8:1929)
• Fause Foodrage / East Muir King (Roud 57; Child 89; G/D 8:1930)
• Jellon Graeme (Roud 58; Child 90; G/D 2:198)
• Fair Mary of Wallington / The Fair Maid of Wallington / Bonny Earl of Livingston (Roud 59; Child 91)
• Lamkin / Long Lankin / Cruel Lincoln (Roud 6; Child 93; G/D 2:187; Henry H735)
• Young Waters (Roud 2860; Child 94)
• The Maid Freed From the Gallows / The Prickly Bush / The Prickle-Holly Bush / Prickle-Eye Bush / The Golden Ball (Roud 144; Child 95; G/D 2:248)
• The Gay Goshawk (Roud 61; Child 96)
• Brown Robin (Roud 62; Child 97; G/D 8:1932)
• Brown Adam (Roud 482; Child 98; G/D 5:994)
• Johnie Scot / Johnny Scott (Roud 63; Child 99; G/D 5:1013; Henry H736)
• Willie o’ Winsbury / Tom the Barber / There Was a Lady Lived in the West (Roud 64; Child 100; G/D 5:999; Henry H221)
• Willie and Earl Richard’s Daughter / The Birth of Robin Hood (Roud 3910; Child 102)
• Prince Heathen (Roud 3336; Child 104; G/D 7:1497)
• The Bailiff’s Daughter of Islington (Roud 483; Child 105; G/D 1:168)
• The Famous Flower of Serving Men / The Lament of the Border Widow (Roud 199; Child 106; G/D 1:163)
• The Knight and the Shepherd’s Daughter / Knight William and the Shepherd’s Daughter / The Shepherd’s Daughter / The Royal Forester (Roud 67; Child 110; G/D 7:1465)
• Crow and Pie (Roud 3975; Child 111)
• The Baffled Knight / The Shepherd Lad / Blow the Winds / The Dew Is on the Grass (Roud 11; Child 112; G/D 2:301)
• The Great Selkie of Sule Skerry / The Great Silkie of Sule Skerry (Roud 197; Child 113)
• Johnie Cock / Johnny the Brine / Johnny o’ Bredislee (Roud 69; Child 114; G/D 2:250)
• Robin Hood’s Death (Roud 3299; Child 120)
• The Jolly Pinder of Wakefield (Roud 3981; Child 124)
• Robin Hood and Little John (Roud 1322; Child 125)
• Robin Hood and the Tanner (Roud 332; Child 126)
• The Bold Pedlar and Robin Hood / Robin Hood and the (Bold) Pedlar / Gamble Gold (Robin Hood) (Roud 333; Child 132)
• Robin Hood’s Progress to Nottingham / Robin Hood and the Fifteen Foresters (Roud 1790; Child 139)
• Robin Hood and the Widow’s Three Sons / Robin Hood Rescuing Three Squires (Roud 71; Child 140; G/D 2:243)
• Robin Hood and the Bishop of Hereford (Roud 2338; Child 144)
• Sir Hugh or the Jew’s Daughter / Little Sir Hugh / The Jews’s Garden (Roud 73; Child 155)
• Queen Eleanor’s Confession (Roud 74; Child 156; G/D 2:208)
• The Battle of Otterburn (Roud 3293; Child 161)
• Chevy Chase (Roud 223; Child 162)
• The Battle of Harlaw (Roud 2861; Child 163; G/D 1:112)
• Sir Andrew Barton (Roud 104; Child 167)
• Flodden Field (Roud 2862; Child 168)
• Johnnie Armstrong (Roud 76; Child 169)
• The Death of Queen Jane (Roud 77; Child 170; G/D 3:693)
• Mary Hamilton / The Four Marys (Roud 79; Child 173; G/D 2:195)
• Edom o Gordon (Roud 80; Child 178; G/D 2:231)
• The Bonny Earl of Moray (Roud 334; Child 181)
• The Laird of Logie / Young Logie (Roud 81; Child 182; G/D 2:247)
• Burning of Auchindoon / Willie Macintosh (Roud 4010; Child 183)
• Kinmont Willie (Roud 4013; Child 186)
• Jock o’ the Side (Roud 82; Child 187)
• Archie o’ Cawfield / Bold Archer / The Escape of Old John Webb (Roud 83; Child 188; G/D 2:244)
• Hughie Graeme (Roud 84; Child 191; G/D 2:271)
• Lochmaben Harper / The Blind Harper / The Wanton Brown (Roud 85; Child 192; G/D 2:270)
• The Death of Parcy Reed (Roud 335; Child 193)
• The Laird of Wariston (Roud 3876; Child 194)
• Lord Maxwell’s Last Goodnight (Roud 4015; Child 195)
• The Bonny House of Airlie (Roud 794; Child 199; G/D 2:233)
• Gypsy Davey / Gypsum Davy / Black Jack Davy / Gypsy Rover (Roud 1; Child 200; G/D 2:278; Henry H124)
• The Gypsy Laddie / Seven Yellow Gipsies / Raggle Taggle Gipsies (Roud 1; Child 200; G/D 2:278; Henry H124)
• Betsy Bell and Mary Gray (Roud 237; Child 201; G/D 6:1257)
• The Baron of Brackley (Roud 4017; Child 203; G/D 2:234)
• Waly Waly / James Douglas /Cockleshells (Roud 87; Child 204)
• The Water Is Wide / The Bonny Boat (Roud 87; Child 204)
• Lord Derwentwater / Lord Allenwater (Roud 89; Child 208)
• Geordie / Georgie (Roud 90; Child 209; G/D 2:249)
• Bonnie George Campbell / Bonnie James Campbell (Roud 338; Child 210)
• The Duke of Athole’s Nurse / Little Duke Arthur’s Nurse (Roud 3393; Child 212; G/D 1:160)
• Sir James the Rose (Roud 2274; Child 213; G/D 2:235)
• The Dowie Dens of Yarrow (Roud 13; Child 214; G/D 2:215)
• Rare Willie’s Drowned in Yarrow (Roud 206; Child 215; G/D 6:1227)
• Clyde’s Water / The Drowned Lovers (Roud 91; Child 216; G/D 6:1231)
• The Broom of Cowdenknowes / Bonny May (Roud 92; Child 217; G/D 4:838)
• The False Lover Won Back / Honey for the Bee / Young John / The Sun Shines High (Roud 201; Child 218; G/D 5:974)
• Proud Maisrie / The Gardener / The Gardener Child (Roud 339; Child 219; G/D 4:840)
• Bonny Lass of Anglesey (Roud 3931; Child 220)
• The Green Wedding / There Was a Lord in Edinburgh (Roud 93; Child 221; G/D 5:1024)
• Eppie Moray / Eppie Morrie (Roud 2583; Child 223)
• Rob Roy (Roud 340; Child 225)
• Leezie Lindsay / Lizzie Lindsay (Roud 94; Child 226; G/D 4:858)
• Glasgow Peggy (Roud 95; Child 228; G/D 4:850)
• The Earl o Errol (Roud 96; Child 231; G/D 7:1366)
• Richie Story / The Earl of Weymss (Roud 97; Child 232; G/D 5:1051)
• Andrew Lammie / Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie (Roud 98; Child 233; G/D 5:1018)
• The Earl of Aboyne (Roud 99; Child 235; G/D 6:1159)
• The Laird o’ Drum (Roud 247; Child 236; G/D 4:835)
• Glenlogie / Jean of Bethelnie (Roud 101; Child 238; G/D 5:973)
• Annachie Gordon (Roud 102; Child 239; G/D 5:1021)
• The Rantin Laddie (Roud 103; Child 240; G/D 5:976)
• The Demon Lover / The House Carpenter (Roud 14; Child 243; G/D 2:332)
• James Hatley (Roud 4022; Child 244)
• Young Allan (Roud 242; Child 245; G/D 2:326)
• Redesdale and Wise William (Roud 243; Child 246)
• Pretty Crowin’ Chicken (Roud 179; Child 248)
• The Grey Cock (Roud 179; Child 248)
• The Lover’s Ghost (Roud 179; Child 248)
• Fly Up My Cock / True Lover John (Roud 179; Child 248; Henry H699)
• Auld Matrons (Roud 3915; Child 249)
• Henry Martin / The Lofty Tall Ship (Roud 104; Child 250)
• Lang Johnny More / Long John, Old John and Jackie North (Roud 3100; Child 251; G/D 2:246)
• Thomas of Yonderdale (Roud 3890; Child 253)
• Willie’s Fatal Visit (Roud 244; Child 255)
• Alison and Willie / My Luve She Lives (Roud 245; Child 256)
• Broughty Wa’s / Burd Helen (Roud 108; Child 258)
• The Knight’s Ghost (Roud 3889; Child 265)
• The Heir of Linne (Roud 111; Child 267; G/D 2:273)
• Lady Diamond / Lady Dysie (Roud 112; Child 269; G/D 6:1224)
• The Suffolk Miracle / The Holland Handkerchief / The Lover’s Ghost (Roud 246; Child 272; Henry H217)
• Our Goodman / Four Nights Drunk / Coming Home Late / Shickered As He Could Be (Roud 114; Child 274; G/D 7:1460; Henry H21ab)
• Get Up and Bar the Door / The Barring of the Door / John Blunt (Roud 115; Child 275; G/D 2:321)
• The Friar in the Well / The Parson and the Maid (Roud 116; Child 276)
• The Wife Wrapt in Wether’s Skin / The Wee Cooper o’ Fife / The Daughter of Peggy, O (Roud 117; Child 277; G/D 7:1282)
• The Farmer’s Curst Wife / The Devil and the Farmer’s Wife / The Devil and the Ploughman / Kellyburn Braes / Lily Bulero (Roud 160; Child 278; G/D 2:320)
• The Jolly Beggar / The Beggar Man (Roud 118; Child 279; G/D 2:274)
• The Gaberlunzie Man / The Beggar Man / The Auld Beggarman (Roud 212; Child 279 Appendix; Henry H810)
• The Beggar Laddie (Roud 119; Child 280; G/D 2:277; Henry H810)
• The Keach in the Creel / The Ride in the Creel / The Wee Toun Clerk (Roud 120; Child 281; G/D 2:317; Henry H201)
• Jock the Leg (Roud 3856; Child 282; G/D 2:263)
• The Crafty Farmer (Roud 2640; Child 283; G/D 2:267)
• The Golden Vanity / The Sweet Kumadee / The Merry Willow Tree / The Old Virginia Lowlands (Roud 122; Child 286; G/D 1:37)
• Captain Ward and the Rainbow / Ward the Pirate (Roud 224; Child 287; G/D 1:39)
• The Mermaid / The Sailor’s Song / Our Gallant Ship (Roud 124; Child 289; G/D 1:27)
• Child Owlet (Roud 3883; Child 291)
• John of Hazelgreen / Jock o’ Hazeldean (Roud 250; Child 293; G/D 5:1029)
• The Brown Girl (Roud 180; Child 295)
• Young Peggy / Bonny Peggy (Roud 3875; Child 298)
• The Trooper and the Maid / The Bold Dragoon / The Light Dragoon (Roud 162; Child 299; G/D 7:1470)