The ballads I have in mind are the ones based on factual, publicized murders. Examples, with the best sources I have on hand for relevant song history:
To modern ears, the idea of someone composing such songs about real life killings (in the case of the second song, bluntly speaking of a father killing his children) is crass and morbid. Imagine the public reaction if someone had chosen to create such a song about say, Sandy Hook - there would be some to defend it in the case of freedom of speech, but with no memorial element it would only appear grossly offensive. These instead are songs deemed worth preserving as part of our cultural history, being passed down from musician to musician.
Is this due to a difference in the way death/memorial were viewed (such as with memento mori)? A difference in the speed of communication (newspapers/word of mouth vs 24/7 information)? Or am I totally off point and something equivalent to this is still about today, but in a form I've missed?
EDIT: I realize there is a significant gap between these songs in terms of years, but I am unsure of what significance that may pose as they appear similar to my ears, but wholly different from songs I am aware of today.
While the style may have changed, the message really hasn't. There are still TONS of songs written about murder, war, and bloodshed, and not just in the gritty metal/punk scenes.
"Early morning, April 4
A shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride"
Those are the lyrics to In The Name Of Love by U2, which is about Dr. Martin Luther King and his assassination.
Here is a song about Sandy Hook, and so is this song right here
This craziness right here is a list of songs about the assassination of John. F. Kennedy.
Murder makes for good story telling, and that's what writing songs is about, telling stories. Now there is a little more ambiguity to most of them, but the spirit is still the same.
EDIT: I don't format good