A ballad is a type of poem or song that tells a story. It often has a simple melody and is usually written in a form that is easy to remember. The crossword solutions for the term BALLAD, OFTEN are TALE, GAOL, and AULD. TALE is a narrative, usually involving characters and events, that is intended to entertain or instruct. GAOL is an old-fashioned word for jail or prison. AULD is an old Scottish word meaning old or ancient.