10 Famous Folk Music Songs Everyone Should Know

Discover 10 classic folk songs that have stood the test of time and are still enjoyed by music lovers today.

The Times They Are A-Changin’ – Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan wrote “The Times They Are A-Changin'” in 1963, when the U.S. was experiencing enormous social upheaval. The song reflects Dylan’s view that society was undergoing a major shift, with young people leading the way.

The song begins with a simple, forceful statement: “Come gather ’round people / Wherever you roam / And admit that the waters / Around you have grown.” Dylan is urging his listeners to open their eyes and see the world around them changing. He exhorts them to take action: “Your old road is / Rapidly agin’. / Please get out of the new one / If you can’t lend your hand.”

Dylan goes on to describe the generational divide that was occurring in American society at the time. He argues that the older generation does not understand the concerns of young people, who are struggling to make their voices heard. “The line it is drawn, / The curse it is cast,” he sings. “The slow one now / Will later be fast.”

In the final verse, Dylan offers a message of hope, declaring that eventually “the times they are a-changin’.” This optimistic conclusion has resonated with generations of listeners who have found themselves on the wrong side of socialchange.

Blowin’ in the Wind – Bob Dylan

“Blowin’ in the Wind” is a song written by Bob Dylan in 1962 and released on his album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan in 1963. The song has been described as a protest anthem, and poses a series of rhetorical questions about peace, war, and freedom. The refrain “The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind” has been described as “impenetrably mysterious”.[1]

Dylan’s lyrics raised questions about the social conditions of the time, such as racism, although audiences tended to interpret the lyrics as weathered idealism rather than pointed social commentary.[2] “Blowin’ in the Wind” has been recorded more than 500 times,[3] making it one of Dylan’s most popular songs. It was ranked the 63rd greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.

In 2004, it was listed at number 14 on Pitchfork Media’s Top 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s. In 2011, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it 432nd on its list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.

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 life gone wrong in New Orleans; many versions also urge a listener to avoid the same fate. The most successful commercial version, recorded in 1964 by British rock group The Animals, was a number one hit on the UK Singles Chart and also in the United States and France.

The song is thought to be about a house of prostitution on Frenchmen Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It was said to be named for its owner, Marianne LeSoleil Levant (literally “Marianne, the Rising Sun”), though some believe it to be named for its location on Rue Dumaine (“Dumaine Street”). TheAnalysis of the lyrics suggests that it could be referencing any number of now-disrepaird Three-Story Gabled cottages in New Orleans’ Tremé neighborhood which were common at the time the song was written. Many such residences were owned by prostitutes.

The oldest known version of the song is not related to New Orleans at all, but an English ballad called “The Unfortunate Rake”, which dates back to at least 1728. This ballad told of a young man’s life ruined by gambling, drinking and prostitutes, and includes some verses very similar to those found in “The House of the Rising Sun”. An early version from 1788 includes the lines:

There are numerous theories about the origins of “The House of the Rising Sun”, but no one knows for sure where it came from or how it evolved into such a popular folk song. What we do know is that it has been around for centuries, and will likely continue to be sung (and adapted) for many more to come.

If I Had a Hammer – Peter, Paul and Mary

“If I Had a Hammer (The Hammer Song)” is a song written by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays. It was written in 1949 in support of the progressive movement, and was first recorded by The Weavers, a folk music quartet composed of Seeger, Hays, Ronnie Gilbert, and Fred Hellerman. It was a number 10 hit for Peter, Paul and Mary in 1962 and has been recorded by many other artists. The authors wrote the song “in the hope that it would be useful”, and it was used by members of the American labor movement as well as civil rights activists.

Where Have All the Flowers Gone? – Pete Seeger

“Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” is a modern folk-style song. The melody and the first three verses were written by Pete Seeger in 1955 and published in Sing Out!, a folk music magazine. The song was inspired by a Ukrainian folk song, “Shchedryk”. It became widely known in the English-speaking world outside North America in the late 1950s, when it was recorded by several artists including Joan Baez, Marlene Dietrich, and Peter, Paul and Mary. In 1962, it was recorded as an uptempo pop arrangement by Kingston Trio member Bob Shane.

The Kingston Trio’s version of “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” reached No.1 on Billboard magazine’s Hot 100 chart for two weeks in early November 1962;[3] this was one of three songs with different performers that topped the chart during consecutive weeks that year (“Telstar”/”Hey Paula” being the other two). Other Billboard Hot 100 charting versions in 1962 were by Joan Baez (#21), Marlene Dietrich (#31), and Peter, Paul & Mary (#2).

In 1963, Seeger commented on his inspiration:

The original Ukrainian folk song from which my chorus and first two verses are borrowed has been traced back to the sixteenth century … I found it hard to reconcile myself with making a supposedly light-hearted children’s song out of something so tragic as Ukraine under Stalin … later I decided that since so many people seemed to like singing [it], I might as well let them go right on singing about cheerful springtime even though my heart and mind are thinking about more serious matters.[4]

We Shall Overcome – Mahalia Jackson

“We Shall Overcome” is a gospel song which has been described as an ” Negro spiritual “. The song became prominent during the Civil Rights Movement and was most notably sung by civil rights activist Mahalia Jackson . Despite its original roots, thesong has been adapted and reused numerous times since its inception.

The song was first published in 1947 by Charles Tindley , who was a Methodist minister and pacifist from Philadelphia . The song is based on the hymn ” I’ll Overcome Some Day “, which was written by Rev. Charles Albert Tindley in 1900. In an interview with C. Eric Lincoln , Tindley said that he had written the hymn after being inspired by a sermon he heard by Bob Smith, a Baptist minister. After hearing Smith’s sermon, which was based on Scripture from Psalm 37:5–6 , Tindley wrote down the words to what would become “We Shall Overcome”.

The original version of the song contained five verses, but Jackson would later shorten it to three verses for use in protest marches. Jackson’s version of “We Shall Overcome” became one of the most important anthems of the Civil Rights Movement . It served as a rallying cry for protestors and freedom fighters alike, and was even adopted as the official theme song of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).

The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including Pete Seeger , Joan Baez , Odetta , Harry Belafonte , Mahalia Jackson , Paul Robeson , Josh White , Peter, Paul & Mary , Nina Simone , Tracy Chapman , and Bruce Springsteen .

Amazing Grace – Judy Collins

“Amazing Grace” is a hymn written by English poet and clergyman John Newton. Newton wrote the words from personal experience. He grew up without any particular religious conviction, but his life changed when he was forced to go to sea at age 11. He became involved in the slave trade and experienced a profound conversion which led him to become an outspoken opponent of slavery. “Amazing Grace” was first published in 1779 and is Newton’s best known work.

The song is usually sung in English, but it has been translated into many other languages. It has been performed by a wide variety of artists from many different musical genres, including gospel, folk, country, pop, and rock. Judy Collins’ version of “Amazing Grace” was released in 1971 and reached #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald – Gordon Lightfoot

The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald is a song written by Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot. The song recounts the events leading up to and immediately following the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald on November 10, 1975. The Edmund Fitzgerald was an American Great Lakes freighter that sank in Lake Superior during a storm, killing all 29 crew members aboard. The ship’s wreck was discovered in September 2014, and Lightfoot’s song remains one of the most well-known folk songs ever written.

Here is Gordon Lightfoot singing “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”:

And here are the lyrics to the song:

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they called “Gitche Gumee”
Superior, they said, never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy

With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
When the gales of November came early

The ship was about two hundred miles from Whitefish Bay When she sank in fifty-seven fathoms of water She lies in one thousand six hundred feet of ooze Aborted dreams linger in her wake Her key lies above, while below Fitzgerald sleeps As silent as death itself

The Weight – The Band

The Weight is a song originally released by The Band in 1968. The song was written by Robbie Robertson and has been covered by many artists over the years. The song is about a person who is struggling to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. The song is often seen as a metaphor for the human condition and our need for support from others.

Will the Circle Be Unbroken – The Carter Family

“Will the Circle Be Unbroken” is a song written in 1907 by Ada R. Habershon with music by Charles H. Gabriel. The song is often recorded unattributed to Habershon and Gabriel, and has been adapted and recorded under the titles “Can the Circle Be Unbroken” and “Will the Circle be Broken”. The song is ranked No. 51 on CMT’s 100 Greatest Songs in Country Music, and No. 73 on Rolling Stone′s list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.

The original version of the song was about a mother’s love for her children. In 1928, A. P. Carter changed some of the lyrics to make the song about death and resurrection, which is how it is most commonly known today. The Carter Family first recorded the song in 1935, and their version became one of the most popular recordings of the song ever made. It has been adapted and recorded by many artists over the years, including Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Bruce Springsteen, and many more.