Why do some ballads preserve old-fashioned words, objects, and customs?

Ballads preserve old-fashioned words, objects, and customs primarily because the ballad tradition is inherently conservative. While ballads are subject to constant variation as they are passed down through oral transmission, this process functions by re-creating rather than exactly reproducing the song.1

Even when singers do not fully understand the meaning of archaic words or phrases, they often retain them because they enjoy the sound of the language and respect the traditional right of those elements to remain in the song. This preservation reflects the nature of folk arts, where tradition maintains a connection to the past even as the song is adapted to the emotional needs and beliefs of the immediate audience. Consequently, the presence of obsolete implements and customs serves as a testament to the ballad's "protean history," where the song evolves through cumulative variations while simultaneously honoring its traditional roots.1