The story of Billy Budd, a young sailor who is hanged for killing a tyrannical master-at-arms, is primarily known from Herman Melville's novella "Billy Budd, Sailor (An Inside Narrative)." While the story itself is deeply moving and has inspired numerous interpretations, it hasn't led to the creation of a dedicated ballad like some other famous literary figures.
Perhaps this is because the story's tragedy lies in its ambiguity, making it more suitable for contemplation and analysis than straightforward celebration in a traditional ballad format.