FOLK SONGS THAT CENTRE WOMEN - IWD 2026
Written by Kirsty Harrison, Online Event Coordinator, The BIT Collective
A love interest, a mother, a beauty, a crone, a virgin, a whore, a victim of violence.
When you look at folk songs (and indeed across many other genres of music), women have often been portrayed as one of these archetypes, not treated as active participants in their own stories.
Historically, there is an element of women’s voices being silenced in our traditional songs, both through a lack of female-led narratives and more widely perhaps due to past works by women not being held-up and deemed with the same value.
In December 2025, The BIT Collective hosted an online event exploring the role of women in folk song, led by Kim Edgar and Jenn Butterworth. One topic that frequently came up in discussion was how challenging it can be to find songs that you identify with that are from a female perspective or that feel appropriate in an intersectional context.
This International Women’s Day - in collaboration with event participants and members of The BIT Collective community - we have collated a list of some of our favourite folk works, both traditional and contemporary, that centre and celebrate women and other diverse identities.
Read our thoughts about the selected songs and albums below (and some of our recommendations of YouTube videos to watch as you listen!) or click on the button below to view our new Spotify playlist.
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‘The Whole Rainbow’ is a thought-provoking original song written by Kim Edgar for her then niece/nephew to-be written as a push-back to the gender stereotypes often imposed on children from as early as in the womb. The song encourages future generations to go against the limitations of gendered thinking, choosing the whole rainbow instead of being reduced to simply pink or blue.
Some other stand-outs from Kim’s works include ‘The Ornate Lie’ which highlights issues around the objectification of women and ‘Twa Magicians’, a feminist retake on a traditional song.
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In February 2025, Butterworth released ‘All Our Days’, an album with a commitment to telling the female perspective at its core. Butterworth challenges the representation of women in folk songs through insightful rewrites of traditional works as well as her own original material. Some personal favourites include the powerful ‘Fair Maids of February’ (Robin and Barry Dransfield), a nuanced exploration of women’s safety through imagery in nature and an original song ‘One in Ten’ which draws attention to the often overlooked pain and personal struggle faced by the many women that have endometriosis.
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In this song, which was published in Herd’s 1769 collection, a woman shares her feelings on being left by her fiance for a wealthier woman. In contrast to many traditional songs which portray jilted lovers, she does not feel downhearted or low on self-esteem - in fact the opposite! Instead, it’s a song of self-worth and confidence -if he’s stupid enough to let a catch such as herself go, she’s glad he’s left.
Lainey Dempsey recorded a great version of this song in 2023, and also has the lyrics available on her website: My Heart's My Ain | Lainey Dempsey
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A striking and powerful song inspired by the atrocities of the witch trials, ‘Matches’ aims to give voice to women who have historically been silenced and persecuted and “acts as a call to anger and empowerment”.
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‘Fallin Weemin’ is a story of political empowerment following Margaret Armitage, who alongside many other women in the village of Fallin (Stirlingshire), were activists supporting the miner’s strikes and campaigned against mine closures.
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‘A’ Chailleach’ is an album which “celebrates the poetry and strength of female Gaelic voices” by exploring female folklore, witchcraft and spellwork in a unique and bold sound blending Scottish Gaelic song with world music influences. A personal favourite of mine would be ‘‘Òran na Bèiste Maoile’’, featuring Senegalese musician Seckou Keita.
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A tale of determination and betrayal, ‘Billy Taylor’ follows the story of a young girl disguising herself as a man so she could follow her lover to sea.
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‘Driving Myself Home’ is an upbeat and light-hearted song which explores a modern dating experience after which Betts feels contentment in her solitude.
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A moving protest song written by Julu Irvine following the 2022 overturn of the 1973 Roe v Wade decision in the USA, ‘Maggie’ holds a powerful message - “May the power and strength of our unity grant us the courage and hope to fight on”.
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‘Song of the Fishgutters’ follows the stories of many women and girls from the North East of Scotland who travelled the length of the UK, from Shetland to Yarmouth, to gut herring.
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Polwart expertly reinterpreted this feminist anthem as part of her ‘Scottish Songbook’ album. The song is a call to action delivered with a calm power which celebrates the resilience and strength of women in history.
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‘To the Awe’ is an innovative album that focuses on the female perspective through contemporary reworkings of poetry and ballads that either were written by women throughout history or tell women’s stories.
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A moving tribute to the life and bravery of Flora MacDonald, who famously helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape from British troops after the Battle of Culloden.
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In this album, Maeve McKinnon presents a stunning collection of songs with women’s stories at their core - including several Waulking songs which were traditionally sung by women in the Highlands and Islands.
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A bright album that embodies Heisk’s commitment to the empowerment of women and other diverse identities through vibrant tune sets and exciting collaborations with singers Ada Francis and Josie Duncan.
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‘Loretta’ is a playful exploration of gender and sexuality, delving into how characters in folk songs shaped Maggie Rigby’s views on these areas.
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This uplifting collaboration was inspired by the words of Rose Schneiderman’s 1912 speech; “that everyone deserves dignity, respect and the opportunity to flourish in life”.
