A Ballad Analysis

Has the ancient tradition of ballads fallen prey to today’s modern society? One might think so. The truth, however, is the opposite. Ballads have thrived throughout many centuries and have influenced many types of music. Punk, Ska, and Hardcore bands such as Operation Ivy, Less Than Jake, H2O and All have capitalized on ballads as a form of lyrical expression. One such song, “Numbered Days”, a Mighty Mighty Bosstones song, written and composed …

…insert many traditional formats into the song, such as the rhyme scheme and subject matter. The modern aspects that the writers use includes the musical interpretation as well as interweaving issues faced in today’s world. “Numbered Days” is not only an example of the uses of traditional and modern aspects of writing styles and ballads, but a powerful, emotional song that expresses feelings that even the people of the Middle Ages could relate to.