The term "border ballads" refers to a collection of traditional songs from the Anglo-Scottish border region. These ballads are known for their themes of love, betrayal, and revenge. Synonyms for border ballads include "border songs," "Scottish ballads," and "English folk songs." Other phrases used to describe this genre of music include "North Country ballads," "reiver ballads," and "borderlands songs." These ballads were passed down orally for generations, and were eventually collected and written down by scholars in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, border ballads continue to be sung and enjoyed by music lovers around the world.