abstract:Murder ballads are a sub-genre of the traditional ballad form, the lyrics of which form a narrative describing the events of a murder, often including the lead-up and/or aftermath. Traditional ballads are independent from broadsheet ballads insofar as the typical broadsheet form does not use the same formulas or structures and is rooted in a literate society: traditional ballads flourished within non-literate groups within society.
'' But between ''Love the Way You Lie, '' a domestic-violence saga played out with Eminem, and ''Man Down, '' a ragga-tinged murderballad, she just sounded like she needed a hug.