Ballads developed from 14th and 15th-century minstrelsy. The minstrel, a traveling performer, could be a musician, acrobat, singer, or any other type of entertainer. As the decades and centuries progressed, the word “minstrel” narrowed to mean someone who sang songs. However, the connection to the ballad is evident when one considers that minstrels usually performed songs that told stories of mythical people, history, and folk customs to the commoners within an area.
The Romantic period saw a massive revival in the ballad form as poets began to appreciate poetry written for the masses – and not just the super-elite aristocrats.
Ballads, usually have thirteen lines with varying rhyme schemes, and often have frequent rhyme. This rhyming makes the poem more musical and memorable. Plus, as folk songs, ballads are usually suitable lyrics for dance tunes.
So, whether you’re in the mood for a legendary tale, a story about a historical event, or the legend of a mythical hero, these best ballads of all time will not disappoint.