Unfortunate Rake, The

Jig · 6/8 · E minor

The traditional tune known as The Unfortunate Rake is an old Irish street ballad whose exact origin and composer remain uncertain. Written in six-eight meter and E minor, it is commonly performed as a jig with a mournful and cautionary musical character. This melody serves as the direct musical ancestor for numerous later folksongs, most notably including the American cowboy classic Streets of Laredo.

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