Renowned folklorist and singer Ellen Stekert has released her latest single, “The Ballad Of Frankie Silver,” a riveting contribution to the rich lineage of American murder ballads and traditional storytelling.
Stekert first encountered the song in the 1952 book The Frank C. Brown Collection of North Carolina Folklore (here’s a link to it at the Internet Archive), where she also believes she learned the striking melody. “I fell in love with the tune’s gliding grace,” she recalls. “So much so that despite the grisly subject matter, I learned the song.”
“The Ballad of Frankie Silver” occupies a fascinating niche in folk tradition. It belongs to the “Good Night” genre—farewell confession songs typically sung from the perspective of the condemned murderer. In most cases, these ballads center on men who have killed their sweethearts, often echoing themes shared by so-called “Jealous Lover” songs. But Frankie Silver stands apart.
“It is the only Good Night about a female protagonist that I know of,” Stekert notes. “In addition, the murder description is among the most detailed and chilling I’ve heard.”
Despite scholarly curiosity, the song—like so many enduring folk narratives—refuses to answer its most haunting questions. Why did Frankie commit the crime that condemned her at only eighteen years old? Was she acting in self-defense, jealousy, or under circumstances lost to time?
“This is the hallmark of folk songs,” Stekert explains. “They draw in the listener to fill out the story. We never know why Lord Randall was poisoned by his sweetheart or why Sir Patrick Spens had to sail to his death. If any story begged for an answer, this one does.”
With her commanding voice, deep historical knowledge, and lifelong dedication to traditional music, Ellen Stekert brings the mystery of Frankie Silver vividly into the present—inviting listeners to lean closer, listen deeper, and decide for themselves.
“The Ballad Of Frankie Silver” is available now on all major streaming platforms including Bandcamp.
