American Folk Music – The 10 Best Songs

American Folk Music has been around since the 1600s. It’s a genre that is filled with history, heart, and soul. In this blog post, we’ll be counting down the 10 best American Folk songs of all time.

Introduction

American folk music is a genre that dates back to the colonial era. It is a unique blend of various European and African musical traditions. Folk music is typically characterized by its use of acoustic instruments, simple harmonies, and traditional lyrics.

The popularity of folk music declined in the mid-20th century, but it experienced a resurgence in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The folk-rock genre, which blended folk music with rock ‘n’ roll, was particularly popular during this time.

There are many great American folk songs, but these 10 are certainly among the best.

“The House of the Rising Sun” – The Animals

“The House of the Rising Sun” is a traditional folk song, sometimes called “Rising Sun Blues”. It tells the story of a young man who goes to New Orleans and gets caught up in the vice and sin of the city. The song is most associated with The Animals, who had a hit with it in 1964, but it has been recorded by many other artists including Bob Dylan, Eric Burdon, Nina Simone, and even Bob Marley.

“I Ain’t Got No Home” – Woody Guthrie

“I Ain’t Got No Home” is a song written by American folk singer Woody Guthrie. The song is a protest against the conditions faced by migrant workers during the Great Depression. Guthrie wrote the song while he was living in California, working as a migrant worker himself. The song has become one of his most iconic and best-loved songs, and has been covered by many other artists.

“This Land Is Your Land” – Woody Guthrie

“This Land Is Your Land” is one of the most well-known and well-loved American folk songs. Written by Woody Guthrie in 1940, the song has become an anthem for the American people. It celebrates the beauty of the country and the spirit of the American people. The song has been covered by many artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Pete Seeger, and Willie Nelson.

“Freight Train” – Elizabeth Cotten

Discovered by the folk revival generation in the late 1950s, Elizabeth Cotten was in her early seventies when she began her recording career. She had composed “Freight Train” as a young girl, but had never thought of it as a song until she taught it to the young Mike Seeger (half-brother of Pete). He persuaded her to record it and it became one of the most popular songs of the 1960s folk revival.

“Midnight Special” – Lead Belly

“Midnight Special” is a traditional folk song thought to have originated among prisoners in the American South. The song is about a train, the “Midnight Special”, that runs from New Orleans to Atlanta. The lyrics often include the names of cities along the route. The song was popularized by Lead Belly, who recorded it several times.

“Rock Island Line” – Lead Belly

“Rock Island Line” is a traditional folk song made famous by Lead Belly. The song is about the Rock Island Line, a railroad line that ran from Chicago to Kansas City. Lead Belly was a black American folk singer who was born in 1888 and died in 1949. He was incarcerated several times throughout his life, but he is best known for his work as a folk musician. His repertoire included blues, ballads, and spirituals. He is credited with popularizing many folk songs, including “Midnight Special,” “Goodnight, Irene,” and “Where Did You Sleep Last Night.”

“John Henry” – Traditional

One of the most famous and well-loved American folk songs, “John Henry” tells the story of a steel-drivin’ man who works so hard that he literally works himself to death. The song has been recorded by many artists over the years, but it is most associated with folk icon Woody Guthrie.

“Stagger Lee” – Lloyd Price

“Stagger Lee” is a classic American folk song that has been recorded by many artists over the years. The song tells the story of two friends, Stagger Lee and Billy Lyons, who get into a drunken argument that leads to Stagger Lee shooting and killing Billy. The song has been covered by a variety of artists, but Lloyd Price’s version is considered to be the definitive version of the song.

“I’ll Fly Away” – Traditional

“I’ll Fly Away” is a hymn written in 1929 by Albert E. Brumley and published in 1932 by the Hartford Music company in Hardy, Arkansas. The song is often performed as a gospel quartet number, with four singers sharing the lead vocals. It has been recorded by many artists, including The Byrds, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, and Alison Krauss.

“I’ll Fly Away” is about the hope of Heaven and the promise of eternal life. The lyrics are written from the perspective of a Christian who is looking forward to the day when they will be reunited with their loved ones in Heaven. The singer reflects on all the troubles of this life and how they will soon be gone when they fly away to Heaven.

The song has been covered by many artists over the years, but it was originally written as a gospel quartet number. This means that it was meant to be sung by four people, with each person taking a different part. The parts are usually lead, harmony, tenor, and bass. When it is performed as a solo or duet, one person usually sings the lead part and the other sings harmony.

“I’ll Fly Away” is a classic example of American folk music. It is a simple song with a powerful message of hope and comfort. It has been recorded by many artists over the years, but it remains an important part of American musical history.