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With its mournful subject matter and haunting tune, "Silver Dagger" is one of the most celebrated folk ballads of the southern Appalachian Mountains. Dolly Parton, who was born and raised in the region, was deeply influenced by these traditional ballads, as can be heard in the songs she wrote in the first decade of her career. "My Blue Tears," a song from her 1971 album Coat of Many Colors, echoes Appalachian ballads both in theme and word choice.