Here’s a 30-category taxonomy of traditional English folk-song subjects, drawing on recurring themes found in broadside ballads, oral-tradition songs, and major collections such as those indexed by Roud and Child.
| # | Category | Typical Motifs |
| 1 | Courtship | Wooing, persuasion, romantic pursuit |
| 2 | Faithful Lovers | Separation, constancy, reunion |
| 3 | Unfaithful Lovers | Betrayal, abandonment, broken promises |
| 4 | Love Triangles | Rival suitors, jealousy, choice |
| 5 | Secret Meetings | Elopements, nighttime encounters |
| 6 | Marriage | Wedding celebrations, negotiations |
| 7 | Unhappy Marriage | Quarrels, mismatched spouses |
| 8 | Female Resistance | Women rejecting unwanted suitors |
| 9 | Pregnancy and Seduction | Consequences of courtship and deception |
| 10 | Family Conflict | Parents opposing marriages |
| 11 | Children and Inheritance | Heirs, legitimacy, fortunes |
| 12 | Cross-Dressing and Disguise | Women as sailors or soldiers, hidden identity |
| 13 | Supernatural Lovers | Ghosts, revenants, fairy encounters |
| 14 | Magical or Legendary Tales | Enchantment, transformation |
| 15 | Murder Ballads | Domestic murders, revenge killings |
| 16 | Crime and Justice | Trial, execution, confession |
| 17 | Outlaws and Highwaymen | Robbery, adventure, defiance |
| 18 | Poaching and Smuggling | Conflict with authorities |
| 19 | Soldiers and Recruitment | Impressment, enlistment, campaigns |
| 20 | War and Battle | Military exploits and losses |
| 21 | Sailors and Seafaring | Voyages, departures, homecomings |
| 22 | Shipwreck and Disaster | Storms, drownings, survival |
| 23 | Work and Occupations | Shepherds, weavers, miners, craftsmen |
| 24 | Rural Life | Farming, seasons, village customs |
| 25 | Travel and Exile | Wandering, migration, transportation |
| 26 | Beggars, Gypsies, and Wanderers | Marginal lives, freedom, deception |
| 27 | Historical Events | Kings, rebellions, public incidents |
| 28 | Politics and Protest | Social grievance, reform, local disputes |
| 29 | Drinking and Merrymaking | Alehouses, feasts, conviviality |
| 30 | Death and Lament | Mourning, remembrance, elegy |