Abstract
<jats:p>This article is devoted to role-playing songs as one of the most important elements of the urban subculture that emerged in Russia in the early 1990s and continues to exist today. Songs originating in the role-playing environment are examined as a crucial source for studying the history of the formation and development of the role-playing movement in Russia, its essence, and its social significance, particularly for young people. The paper provides a description of live-action role-playing (LARP) and the role-playing movement as a whole, along with a brief historiographical review of Russian and foreign literature on the subject. Since the emergence of role-playing song creativity is linked to the folklore genre, it is analyzed as song folklore. Based on extensive material, the article proposes a classification of the songs, addresses the issue of authorship, and defines the role of role-playing performers (minstrels). The scientific analysis of songs as a historical source includes justifying their origin and purpose, authorship (if applicable), informational content, storage methods, identification, and other aspects. The study also characterizes the informational resources where song collections are concentrated. The author introduces the concept of “filk songs” as a form of parody songs and notes the transition from songs to larger musical forms, such as musicals. The conclusion emphasizes the role of role-playing songs as a source for studying a wide range of issues related to the history of the role-playing movement in Russia.</jats:p>