Ford, Ward H. The Fair Captive. Recorded 1938. Audio recording, Library of Congress Archive of Folk Culture. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017701435/.
Folk music captures an incredible array of themes and traditions by emigrants. “The Fair Captive,” an Anglo-American ballad written in Central California, talks about the conflicting emotions a captive in a Native American tribe had about returning to her birth family. Other folk songs recorded in California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties provide unique insight into early California settlers. Students will listen to the ballad “The Fair Captive,” compare it to another ballad “El Corrido de Kiansis” from this collection, discuss how folk music uses narrative to express cultural values and emotions, and connect these to America 250 by reflecting on how ordinary voices contribute to American history.
“The Fair Captive” is a captivity narrative that are stories mostly about European settlers captured by Native Americans and were very popular due to the intense conflict of European settlers to the Americas. Other captivity narratives are found in the Source section below and can provide additional insights into European and American perspectives on early settler life. “El Corrido de Kiansis” is a Mexican-American song about vaqueros who had to leave Texas due to discrimination. It praises their abilities.
Source: https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/february-29/
https://www.laits.utexas.edu/jaime/cwp4/ckg/musicayletras-kI.html
- How do these folk songs reflect the emotions, values, and struggles of different people in US history?
- What story does this song tell?
- How do narrative songs shape our understanding of the California and overall American experience, including identity, conflict, and survival? What are some examples?
ELA Standard
RH.6–8.2. Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.
Social Studies Standard
6-8.5. Students detect the different historical points of view on historical events and determine the context in which the historical statements were made (the questions asked, sources used, author’s perspectives).
Students develop an understanding of and respect for diversity in language use, patterns, and dialects across cultures, ethnic groups, geographic regions, and social roles.
- Ask students to do a quickwrite: What would it feel like to be taken away from your home?
- Brief class discussion: How are stories passed down through song?
Song #1: “The Fair Captive”
- Briefly introduce “The Fair Captive” as a traditional ballad that tells a dramatic story of kidnapping, identity, and escape.
- You can go into a further discussion of captivity narratives, using the provided link in the source for historical content.
- Listen to the audio; distribute lyrics.
- Discuss narrative structure: Who is the speaker? What happens? How do they feel? Why do you think early California emigrants sang this song?
- How might the narrative change if written from the Native American perspective?
Song #2: “El Corrido de Kiansis”
- Introduce this corrido as a Spanish-language ballad sung by Mexican American workers.
- Provide translation and play the audio. (The source is found in the Alternative or Complementary Primary Sources for the Classroom options.)
- Ask: Who is telling the story? What emotions are present? Why do you think California emigrants sang this song?
Compare and contrast the two songs.
- Use a Venn diagram or T-chart: Compare themes, tone, structure, and historical context of the two songs.
- What kinds of hardship or resilience do both songs express?
- How do language and culture influence storytelling in song?
Connect to America 250
- How do songs like these help us understand the voices and lives of early Americans?
- Why is it important to preserve these songs as we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence?
Creative Reflection
- Students write a short journal or poem imagining a folk song based on a story from their own family or community.
- Prompt: What story would a song tell about someone you know?
Library of Congress. “Collection Items.” Accessed August 7, 2025. https://www.loc.gov/collections/sidney-robertson-cowell-northern-california-folk-music/.
Goodwyn, Frank. El Corrido de Kiansis. Recorded 1939. Audio recording, Library of Congress American Folklife Center. https://www.loc.gov/item/lomaxbib000135/.