The ballads discussed and sung in Reiving and Bereaving events provide an effective and entertaining sample of just some of the ballads associated with the Borders. They include treachery, murder, defiance, unstinting love and deep despair – and reiving of course. We are not averse to including those from the wider tradition, as can also be seen in the list below
To date, the ballads discussed and sung are:
Annan’s Waters
The Border Widow’s Lament
*The Cruel Mother
*The Daemon Lover
The Douglas Tragedy
The Dowie Dens of Yarrow
Earl Richard
Fair Helen of Kirkconnel
The Fair Maid of Coldingham
The Fray of Suport
Johnie Armstrang
Jamie Telfer of the Fair Dodhead
*King Henrie
*Lord Abore (Prince Robert)
*The Twa Sisters (Binorie)
The Wife of Usher’s Well
- part of the wider ballad tradition, but included in publications printed in the Borders in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Reiving and Bereaving 