A narrative poem or song that tells a story, often of love, adventure, or tragedy, typically arranged in quatrains or stanzas.
From Provençal 'balada' (dancing song), derived from Latin 'ballare' (to dance). The term evolved as dancing songs became narrative poems in medieval Romance literature.
The word 'ballad' came from dancing—medieval 'baladas' were literally sung while people danced, and that's why ballads have such strong rhythm and repetition, designed to match dance steps rather than just tell a story.
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