Unprepared To Die: No. 8 - Murder Of The Lawson Family

by Paul Slade

On Christmas Day, 1929, a North Carolina farmer named Charlie Lawson methodically slaughtered his wife and six children before turning the shotgun on himself. His youngest victim was just four months old. A local musician called Walter “Kid” Smith quickly recorded a ballad telling this dark tale, which he’d sometimes perform at the crime scene tours Charlie’s own family arranged. In this chapter from his acclaimed 2015 book, Unprepared To Die, Paul Slade visits the Lawsons’ crowded grave and many of the ballad’s other key sites. Includes an exclusive interview with The Blasters’ Dave Alvin, who discusses his own recording of the song in 2000 and explains the role murder ballads once played in helping friends and neighbours come to terms with such brutal killings.
Praise for Unprepared To
“A dauntingly complete and fascinating piece of work. I was especially struck by the chapter on the Lawson Family murders.” Greil Marcus.
•“A brilliantly simple idea, and a simply brilliant book.” – Steve Hunt, fRoots
•“Captivating cultural history. As entertaining as it is educational.” – Alan Clayson, Record Collector.
•“Slade is a meticulous reporter. […] The pace of his narrative never falters.” – Nigel Williamson, Songlines
•“A major contribution to the annals of folk.” – Dave Thompson, Goldmine
•“Slade’s passion for the music and a grisly crime tale soaks every page.” – Spiral Earth.
•“Pick it up once and you’re hooked.” – Tim Carroll, Folkwords
•“A fascinating read from cover to cover.” – Neil King, Fatea
•“Delivers an emotional wallop.” – Mike Segretto, Psychobabble
•“Expertly researched” – Dai Jeffries, R2

64 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 26, 2016