"folk songs" originate among the people of an area, passed down by oral tradition from a singer of one generation to the next. these can exist in several versions and usually have pretty simple melodies and verses. folk songs can be performed with folk instruments and were traditionally unwritten, so the source of many of them is unknown. these songs can tell the story of a particular culture or special event in time and they can be played on certain days of the year such as holidays or at celebrations. the music of folklore is known to bring together family and friends to experience traditions of their culture. a popular example of a folk song is barbara allen. this is popular throughout english-speaking places and tells the story of barbara allen’s relationship with a dying man and his unrequited love for her. folklorists can’t get their hands on the original version of this song, and some do not believe that the original version even exists today. but, many folk songs have multiple versions that are all sung about a similar central idea or story.