I know that ballad by the title "The House Carpenter." Natalie Merchant sings one version, but the one I imprinted on was Jean Ritchie's version. Whoa, that one made me shiver.

It's shivery! I should have remembered that you knew the ballad. I would have heard it first as "The House Carpenter," too, although I don't know whose version. Either Joan Baez or Richard Dyer-Bennet. We had records of them both.

Whereas it sounds like Jackson gives her a deeply sympathetic treatment--and then still leaves her stranded and suffering. Very real, very distressing.

Yes. She does nothing to deserve what happens to her. Which may be one of Jackson's themes.