Sex, murder and dastardly politics combine in the annals of folk music

Like all good stories, folk music is largely about three things: sex, death and politics. There might be a lot of carousing along the way, and there may be some discussion of farming or the occasional comedic skit to tickle your fancy, but the principal themes remain constant and they are always delivered with rude gusto.

Here are 10 examples of songs that go beyond the bounds of human decency (and are all the better for it):

Warning: contains some adult themes.

Read All: 10 of the most disturbing folk songs in history – BBC Music