The Top 100 Folk Songs of All Time

Folk songs are a genre of music that typically originates from the common people of a society. Folk songs are usually passed down from generation to generation, and they often reflect the culture and values of the people who sing them. In this list, we’ll be taking a look at the top 100 folk songs of all time.

“The Times They Are A-Changin'” by Bob Dylan

Released in 1964, “The Times They Are A-Changin'” is a Dylan classic that has been covered by everyone from Peter, Paul & Mary to Bruce Springsteen. The song is an ode to social change, and Dylan’s growling delivery drives home the message that things are indeed shifting.

“Blowin’ in the Wind” by Bob Dylan

“Blowin’ in the Wind” is a song written by Bob Dylan in 1962 and released as a single by Peter, Paul & Mary in May 1963. The song became a hit for the group, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song has been recorded by more than 500 artists and has been translated into numerous languages.

“The House of the Rising Sun” by 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’s life ruined by gambling and drinking in New Orleans. The song was first recorded by folk singer Woody Guthrie in the 1940s, but it was The Animals’ 1964 version that made it a global hit.

The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, and even Muse. But it’s The Animals’ version that remains the most well-known and beloved. With its simple, catchy melody and haunting lyrics, “The House of the Rising Sun” is a true folk classic.

“Puff the Magic Dragon” by Peter, Paul and Mary

“Puff the Magic Dragon” is a song written by Leonard Lipton and Peter Yarrow, and made popular by the folk group Peter, Paul and Mary. It tells the story of a young boy who befriends a dragon named Puff. Though the song has been interpreted as a tale about the loss of innocence or childhood, it was actually inspired by an event from Lipton’s own childhood.

The song became a hit in 1963 and has been covered by many artists over the years. It has also been featured in several films and television shows.

“The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” by Gordon Lightfoot

The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald is a song written by Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, released as the first single from the eponymous album in 1976. The song became a worldwide hit and remains one of Lightfoot’s signature songs.

The Edmund Fitzgerald was an American Great Lakes freighter that sank in a Lake Superior storm on November 10, 1975. The ship’swreck was discovered in 1985 and is the subject of much speculation.

Lightfoot wrote the song after hearing about the wreck on the news. He patterned the melody after “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and used a maritime folk style to tell the story of the ship and its crew.

In addition to being a commercial success, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” has been praised for its narrative structure and Lightfoot’s use of imagery. The song has been covered by many artists, including Bob Dylan and Loreena McKennitt.

“The Weight” by The Band

Released in 1968, “The Weight” is a song written by Robbie Robertson and performed by The Band. The song was included on The Band’s second studio album, Music from Big Pink. “The Weight” has been covered by many different artists, including Aretha Franklin, Jackie Greene, The Dirty Guv’nahs, and Trampled by Turtles. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked “The Weight” #41 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

“I Shall Be Released” by Bob Dylan

I Shall Be Released” is a song written by Bob Dylan in 1967, first recorded by The Band in 1968, and released on their eponymous 1968 album The Band. It has been included in multiple publications’ lists of the greatest songs of all time, including at number 61 on Rolling Stone’s list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time” in 2004.

Dylan originally wrote the song for Richard Manuel, the Band’s piano player who often sang lead on Dylan songs during their joint 1966 tour. The song is about someone who has been wrongly imprisoned and is counting down the days until his release, when he will finally be reunited with his love.

The Band recorded their version of “I Shall Be Released” with Dylan in 1967, but it was not released until 1968. The song features Manuel on lead vocals and piano, Levon Helm on drums, Garth Hudson on organ, Rick Danko on bass, and Robbie Robertson on guitar. Bob Dylan plays harmonica and sings backup vocals.

The Band’s version of “I Shall Be Released” has been covered by many artists over the years, including Joan Baez, Nina Simone, Johnny Cash, U2, and Willie Nelson.

“The Streets of Laredo” by Marty Robbins

“The Streets of Laredo” (sometimes called “the Dying Cowboy”) is a traditional American folk song about a dying cowboy. It has been recorded by many artists, but the best-known version was recorded by Marty Robbins in 1959.

The song tells the story of a young cowboy who is fatally shot while riding the range. As he lies dying, he thinks about the woman he loves and how she will never know how much he loved her.

“The Streets of Laredo” is one of the most popular folk songs of all time, and it has been covered by many different artists. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002.

“The Battle Hymn of the Republic” by Julia Ward Howe

“The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” also known as “Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory” outside of the United States, is a popular American patriotic song written by Julia Ward Howe in 1861 and published in The Atlantic Monthly in February 1862. The song’s lyrics tell the story of the Biblical Book of Revelation, specifically referencing the War in Heaven and the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Howe’s “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” was popularized by Union Army bands during the American Civil War and it has remained a staple of patriotic music ever since. It has been recorded by numerous artists, including Mahalia Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Punk band The Alarm. In 2010, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” was named as one of Songs of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America and Library of Congress.

“This Land Is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie

“This Land Is Your Land” is a classic folk song written by Woody Guthrie in 1940. The song was written in response to “God Bless America”, which Guthrie felt was too exclusive. “This Land Is Your Land” is now considered an American standard, and has been covered by many artists over the years.

The Top 100 Folk Songs of All Time