The Best 1980s Folk Music Songs
Looking for a blast from the past? Check out our list of the best 1980s folk music songs! From classic artists like Bob Dylan to more contemporary ones like Tracy Chapman, there’s something for everyone.
The 1980s
The 1980s was a decade of great music. There were so many great bands and artists that it is hard to choose just a few. But we have compiled a list of the best 1980s folk music songs. These are the ones that we think are the most timeless and will continue to be enjoyed for many years to come.
The Reagan Era
The Reagan Era was a time of great change, and that was reflected in the music of the decade. Folk music enjoyed a resurgence in popularity, and many of the best-known songs from the 1980s were folk songs. Here are ten of the best-known and most popular folk songs from the 1980s.
1. “The Times They Are A-Changin'” by Bob Dylan
2. “Fairytale of New York” by The Pogues
3. “The Wanderer” by Dion
4. “I Am a Rock” by Simon & Garfunkel
5. “The Weight” by The Band
6. “Blowin’ in the Wind” by Peter, Paul & Mary
7. “The Streets of Philadelphia” by Bruce Springsteen
8. “City of New Orleans” by Willie Nelson
9. “You’ve Got a Friend” by James Taylor
10. “Oh, Susanna!” by Alvin & The Chipmunks
The Cold War
The Cold War was a period of time where the US and the Soviet Union were in a heightened state of tension and conflict. This time period is often referred to as the “arms race” because both countries were in a race to develop more powerful and sophisticated weapons. The 1980s was a particularly tense time, as both countries were involved in proxy wars (wars where each country supported different sides in order to avoid direct conflict with each other) in Latin America and Africa. In addition, the 1980s saw the development of new technologies that gave each side an edge in the arms race, such as missiles that could be launched from submarines.
The Music of the 1980s
The 1980s was a decade of change, and that is reflected in the music of the time. Folk music saw a resurgence in popularity, with artists like Bob Dylan and Emmylou Harris releasing some of their best work. This list looks at some of the best folk music songs of the 1980s.
The New Wave Movement
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, a new movement began in the music industry that would change the sound and style of pop music for years to come. This movement was called the New Wave Movement, and it gave birth to a new genre of music: New Wave.
New Wave was a genre of pop music that emerged from the Punk Rock movement in the United Kingdom and United States in the late 1970s. New Wave shared many similarities with Punk Rock, but it also incorporated elements of disco, pop, and electronic music. New Wave became very popular in the 1980s and was responsible for some of the biggest hits of the decade.
Some of the most famous New Wave artists of the 1980s include Duran Duran, The Police, Blondie, Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, The Cars, Berlin, Bonnie Tyler, and A-ha. These artists defined the sound of an entire generation with their catchy hooks and unique blend of styles.
The British Invasion
The “British Invasion” of the 1980s was a musical phenomenon that saw a resurgence in popularity of British folk music. The 1980s saw a new wave of British folk artists, such as The Pogues, The Smiths, and The Stone Roses, who blended traditional folk music with punk and New Wave influences. This new generation of British folk musicians helped to revive interest in the genre and inspired a new wave of American folk artists, such as Steve Earle and Nanci Griffith.
The Punk Movement
The punk movement was a music, art, and fashion subculture that emerged in the mid-1970s. Punk music became popular in the United Kingdom and United States in the late 1970s. Punk fashion consists of tight jeans, T-shirts, leather jackets, and often spiked or dyed hair. The punk subculture has its roots in the late 1960s counterculture and the working-class culture of the United Kingdom.
The Best Folk Music Songs of the 1980s
The 1980s were a great decade for folk music. Some of the best-known folk songs were released during this time. Here are some of our favourites.
“The Times They Are A-Changin'” – Bob Dylan
“The Times They Are A-Changin'” is a song written by Bob Dylan and released as the title track of his 1964 album of the same name. Dylan wrote the song as a protest against social change and inequality, and it notes that “the first one now will later be last.” The song has been recorded by many artists, including Simon & Garfunkel, Pete Seeger, Nina Simone, and Bruce Springsteen.
“The Ghost of Tom Joad” – Bruce Springsteen
Written and recorded by Bruce Springsteen as the title track to his 1995 album of the same name, “The Ghost of Tom Joad” is a folk song based on John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath. The song tells the story of Joad, a disillusioned former farmer who becomes an itinerant worker during the Great Depression. Springsteen’s version features an acoustic guitar and harmonica, with string and percussion accompaniments.
The song was well-received upon its release, with critics praising its social commentary and Springsteen’s performance. In 1998, Rolling Stone ranked “The Ghost of Tom Joad” #91 on its list of “The 100 Greatest Songs of All Time.”
“Fisherman’s Blues” – The Waterboys
Written by Mike Scott of The Waterboys, “Fisherman’s Blues” is a classic folk song that was released in 1988. The song is about a fisherman who is yearning for a life at sea, and it has been covered by many other artists over the years.
“The Wanderer” – Dion
“The Wanderer” is a song written by Ervin Drake, George David Weiss and Winfield Scott, and recorded by Dion. It was released in December 1961, peaking at number two on the Billboard charts in February 1962. The song describes a “lonely man” who “wanders from town to town”.
Dion recorded the song after he was approached by producers to write and record a follow-up to his previous hit single, “Runaround Sue”. The track was originally intended for Dee Clark, but Dion decided to keep it for himself after hearing an early version of the song.
The Wanderer” was one of the first songs to use the word “wanderer” in its title, and it has been credited as an influence on later songs with similar titles, including Bruce Springsteen’s “The Wanderer”, Meat Loaf’s “Bat Out of Hell”, and Katrina and the Waves’ “Walking on Sunshine”.
“The Weight” – The Band
One of the most popular and well-known folk songs of the 1980s is “The Weight” by The Band. The song was originally released in 1968 on the band’s debut album Music from Big Pink, but it gained renewed popularity in the 1980s when it was used in the film The Right Stuff. “The Weight” is a classic example of the Americana sound that was prevalent in folk music during the 1980s.
Other popular folk songs of the 1980s include “City of New Orleans” by Steve Goodman, “The Times They Are A-Changin'” by Bob Dylan, and ” Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again.” These songs encapsulate the spirit of the folk music movement of the 1980s, which was characterized by a return to traditional values and a focus on social and political issues.
