A few more ballads (true or ought-to-be-true)–often from sources already mentioned.
“Me & Billy The Kid” by Joe Ely. Joe also did a tremendous version of Robert Earl Keen’s “The Party Never Ends.” And Townes Van Zandt did a fine version of Ely’s “Indian Cowboy.” (Townes also covered the ancient “Wreck of the Old 97”–& wrote a few ballads himself. Such as “My Mother the Mountain” & “Tecumseh Valley.”)
The Red Clay Ramblers were deep into traditional music & also wrote excellent stuff. “Queen of Sky” is sublime &“Merchant’s Lunch” is hilarious.
Steve Earle again. His “Dixieland” shows up on the wonderful Mountain, recorded with the Del McCoury Band.
More Stan Rogers. How about “Northwest Passage” & “Barrett’s Privateers”?
Johnny Cash Sings the Ballads of the True West has some dated arrangements. But Johnny Cash was, as always, real. (He liked to record ballads.)
Several very old ballads appear on The Silly Sisters–by June Tabor & Maddie Pryer. Their harmonies give me chills.
For something completely different, how about some corridos? Definitely true ballads. This site has history, pictures & music. (With translations.)
Edited to add: Someone else already mentioned “Barrett’s Privateers.” But I’d like to add “Me & My Uncle”–recorded by the Grateful Dead, although I don’t think they wrote it.