Folk Music Sad Songs: The Top 5

We all have those days when we need a good cry. And what better way to do that than by listening to some good old folk music? Here are the top 5 folk songs that are sure to make you sad.

Introduction

Folk music is often associated with happier, more upbeat songs. But there are plenty of folk songs out there that are downright sad. Here are five of the saddest folk songs ever written.

“Barbara Allen” is a traditional folk song that tells the story of a young man who dies of a broken heart after the girl he loves rejects him. The song is incredibly sad, and has been covered by many artists over the years.

“The Unquiet Grave” is a traditional English ballad about a man who is haunted by the ghost of his dead wife. The husband tries to get rid of the ghost by digging up her body and burning it, but she continues to haunt him until he finally goes mad and dies himself.

“The House Carpenter” is an American folk song about a woman who leaves her family to marry a house carpenter. Her husband ends up being killed in a shipwreck, and she is left alone with their child. The song is incredibly sad, and highlights the struggles of women in traditional roles.

“I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” is a country song written by Hank Williams, Sr. in 1949. The song is about loneliness and despair, and has been covered by many artists over the years.

“In the Pines” is an American folk song that has been recorded by many artists over the years. The song is about a woman who is murdered by her lover, and her body is found in the pine trees.

“In the Pines” by Lead Belly

“In the Pines” is a traditional folk song which dates back to the late 19th century. The song is also known as “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?” and “Black Girl”, and has been recorded by a number of artists over the years.

The song is about a young woman who is murdered by her lover, and her body is found in the pines. The song has been interpreted as being about jealousy, betrayal, and/or unrequited love.

Lead Belly’s version of the song is one of the most well-known, and was recorded in 1944. The song has been covered by many artists since, including Nirvana, who popularized it with their own version in 1993.

“House of the Rising Sun” by Woody Guthrie

“House of the Rising Sun” is a traditional folk song, thought to be about a life of sin in New Orleans. Woody Guthrie learned the song from a friend in the 1940s, and it quickly became one of his signature tunes. Guthrie’s recordings of the song are some of the most influential versions ever made, helping to spread the popularity of folk music in the United States.

“John Henry” by Pete Seeger

Few folk songs are as sad as “John Henry.” The song tells the story of a man who worked as a steel-driving man, hammering railroad spikes into rock. He was the best there was at his job, but he died young, working himself to death. The tragedy of the story is made all the more poignant by Seeger’s simple, clear delivery.

“St. James Infirmary” by Louis Armstrong

“St. James Infirmary” is a 1928 song based on an old English ballad. It was made popular by Louis Armstrong and has been covered by many artists since. The song is about a man who goes to the St. James Infirmary to find his lover lying dead on a stretcher. He is then informed by the nurse that she has been “stretched on a long white tablecloth” and that he can’t see her because she’s “in a long white bed”. The man is heartbroken and proceeds to have a drink to forget his sorrows.

Conclusion

We hope you’ve enjoyed our list of folk music sad songs. While there are many more out there, these five are some of the best. If you’re in the mood for a good cry, give them a listen. You won’t be disappointed.