This episode is an exploration of ghost songs or, more accurately, “revenant ballads.” Ghosts are not particularly common in English ballads, so we’ll look at what circumstances are needed to summon a revenant into a song and discover how these supernatural lyrics interact with ancient superstitions from multiple cultures. These ghosts are mainly on the side of justice and love, but watch out: they can tear you to pieces if you wrong them.
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Find a list of all musical excerpts used in this episode.
On a Quiet Street Where Old Ghosts Meet by Jay Michaels
Learn about the newly unearthed concert from Jean Ritchie
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Host: Olivia Harding
Assistant Producer: Aaron J. Morton
