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Graley Herren's avatar

Fantastic work, Andy! Those are some brilliant readings of Ophelia's songs. Along with opening my ears, your writing opens my eyes to connections between Shakespeare and the broadside ballad market. It makes me wonder if some songs in the plays were early examples of what we'd call today "product placement." There was a shilling to be made if Shakespeare ever wanted to put his art in the second best bed with commerce and coordinate with those entrepreneurs hawking their wares inside and outside the Globe. But now I'm thinking like someone from the land of Coca-Cola!

You blew my mind with Part 2--"Nettie Moore" as murder ballad! I missed it entirely, but now I'm totally convinced that you're right. You also make me think that I haven't sufficiently appreciated the importance of Lead Belly as a prototype for the singer-as-killer that Dylan so often channels in his later songs. Great piece, Andy!

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