Comical, political scandalous or just plain obscene, 'Broadside Ballads' were the pop songs of their day. Distributed up and down the land they also acted as the tabloid press, covering subjects such as the fire of London and the gunpowder plot as well as lusty tales of infidelity and royal gossip, this is a true insight into lives of ordinary seventeenth century folk.

'Broadside Ballads' includes over seventy songs selected and edited by singer, writer and BBC broadcaster Lucie Skeaping. Many of the lyrics have been 're-connected' to their original tunes for the first time and singers of all abilities will find them accessible and fun to sing. The explanatory notes give historical context to each of the songs as well as a glossary for obscure or obselete words and phrases making this a fascinating historical record. Beautiful illustrations throughout, including original woodcuts make this book the perfect coffee table accessory.

Naxos have recently released a CD 'Penny Merriments' ( Naxos 8.557672) including 18 of the songs included in the book.

Baffled Knight, The
Beehive, The
Bonny Grey-Eyed Morn, The
Caveat for Cutpurses, A
Country Lass, The
Countryman's Joy, The
Courage Crowned with Conquest
Courtiers Health, The
Courteous Carman and the Amorous Maid, The
Crafty Maid, The
Crost Couple, The
Cupids Courtisie
Custard Eaters, A Warning to all
Daphne, A pleasant new ballad of
Diddle diddle
Doleful Dance and Song of Death, The
Downfall of Dancing, The
Drive the cold Winter Away
Dumpling Woman's Delight, The
England's Great Prognosticator
Fair Maid of Islington, The
Famous Ratcatcher with his travels, The
Female Captain, The
Gelding of the Devil, The
Good Advice to Batchelors
Great Boobee, The
Gunpowder Plo
Harvest Home
Hey, then up go we
Husband who met his Match, The
Irish Jigg, The
Jockey's Lamentation
Jolly Miller, The
Jolly Tradesmen, The
Joviall Broome Man, The
Jovial Lass, The
Lancashire Cuckold, The
London Mourning in Ashes
Lumps of Pudding
Lunatick Lover, The
Maid's Complaint for want of a Dil Doul, The
John Thomson and Jakaman his Wife, A merry jest of
Modesty Amazed
Mother Watkin's Ale, A ditty delightful of
My Dog and I
Neptune's Raging Fury
North Country Lovers, The
Northern Lasses Lamentation, The
Old England Grown New
Old Woman's Legacy to her Cat, The
Oyster Nan
Saint Turn'd Sinner, The
Seldom Cleanly
Seven Merry Wives of London, The
Shameless Joan
Slighted Maid, The
Spanish Armada, An old song on the
Storm of Hail, A Ballad of the Strange and Wonderful
Three Ravens, The
Tobacco, A ballad upon
Trader's Medley, The
Trooper Watering his Nag, The
True Love Requited
United Lovers, The
Vindication of Top-knots and Commodes, The
When Cannons are Roaring
Wiltshire Wedding, The
Winchester Wedding, The
Would ye have a Young Virgin?
You Lasses and Lads
Jigg - The Cheaters Cheated