Today we are going to look at a really important ballad that shows how ballads and songs were used to communicate crime reports, and links earlier murder ballads as a way of tracking historical crimes. This ballad covers the murder of Maria Marten by William Corder in 1828, a story and song that has also been covered by the likes of Shirley Collins and Tom Waits, and is the inspiration for a still-running play.   The Murder of Maria Marten original ballad The Murder of Maria Marten Murderpedia. The Ballad of Maria Marten play Shirly Collins version of The Murder of Maria Marten Murder in the Red Barn: Tom Waits Winter's Going by Bonnie Dobson A Very British Murder docuseries Support the show