Which Song Initiated the Folk Music Revival?

The folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s was initiated by which song? We explore the answer to this question and more in our latest blog post.

The Weavers

The Weavers were an American folk music quartet, formed in the late 1940s in Greenwich Village. Their repertoire included folk, blues, and protest songs. They were one of the most commercially successful and influential groups of the early 1950s. Their hit recording of Lead Belly’s “Goodnight, Irene” in 1950 sold over two million copies and was a #1 hit for 13 weeks on the Billboard chart. It was also the first record to ever be awarded a gold disc.

The Weavers and the Folk Music Revival

Folk music had been around for centuries, but it wasn’t until the early 20th century that it began to gain widespread popularity. One of the most important groups in promoting folk music was the Weavers, a quartet that included Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Lee Hays, and Ronnie Gilbert.

The Weavers were at the forefront of the folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s. They popularized many traditional folk songs, as well as writing their own material. Some of their most popular songs include “Goodnight, Irene,” “On Top of Old Smokey,” and “Kisses Sweeter than Wine.”

The Weavers’ influence can still be felt today. Their music has been covered by many artists, including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Peter, Paul and Mary. Folk music has continued to be popular in the decades since the Weavers helped revive it, proving that their legacy endures.

“Goodnight Irene”

“Goodnight Irene” is a ballad written in 3/4 time by Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter and recorded by him in 1933. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008. The song wasn’t initially a folk song, but later versions were adapted and popularized by various folk artists, most notably the Weavers, whose hit single helped initiate the great American folk music revival of the 1950s.

Lead Belly

In the 1930s and 1940s, the American folk music revival began as a response to the pop music of the time. The Weavers, Pete Seeger, and Woody Guthrie were some of the first folk musicians to gain popularity. However, it was Lead Belly who truly initiated the folk music revival.

Lead Belly and the Folk Music Revival

The Folk Music Revival is often said to have been started by a song. That song is “Goodnight, Irene” by Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter. It was recorded by the folklorist John Lomax in 1933 while he was doing field work for the Library of Congress. He then took it (and Lead Belly) to New York where it became a surprise hit.People were fascinated by the fact that this was “authentic” folk music, not something made up by professional songwriters. The success of “Goodnight, Irene” led to a recording contract for Lead Belly and, eventually, to the folk music boom of the 1950s and 1960s.

“Midnight Special”

“Midnight Special” is a traditional folk song thought to have originated among prisoners in the American South. The song was popularized by Lead Belly, who recorded it several times throughout his career. It has been suggested that the lyrics of the song are based on an actual event, though the specifics are unclear.

The song became well-known during the folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s, when it was recorded by artists such as Pete Seeger, Odetta, and Joan Baez. In recent years, it has been covered by a wide variety of artists, including Nirvana, John Mellencamp, and Billy Bragg.

Woody Guthrie

The song that initiated the folk music revival and led to the creation of the genre of folk rock was “This Land Is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie. The song was released in 1940 and was written in response to “God Bless America” by Irving Berlin.

Woody Guthrie and the Folk Music Revival

Woody Guthrie is considered by many to be one of the inaugural architects of the American folk music revival. His songs captured the hearts and minds of a nation during a time of great turmoil, and his simple, yet powerful lyrics continue to resonate today. While there are many songs that could be credited with kickstarting the folk music revival, it was Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” that truly put the genre on the map.

First written in 1940, “This Land Is Your Land” was Guthrie’s response to Irving Berlin’s popular song “God Bless America.” Where Berlin’s song painted a rosy picture of America that excluded anyone who wasn’t wealthy or white, Guthrie’s song was inclusive and celebrated the beauty of the country’s diverse landscape. The song quickly gained traction among left-wing activists and folksingers, such as Pete Seeger and Joan Baez, who helped to popularize it throughout the country.

Although it was initially met with skepticism by some members of the folk scene, “This Land Is Your Land” has since become an American standard, cementing Woody Guthrie’s place in history as one of the most important figures of the twentieth century.

“This Land Is Your Land”

“This Land Is Your Land” is one of the United States’ most famous folk songs. The song was written by Woody Guthrie in 1940 and was first published in 1945. It is often said to be an alternative national anthem and has been recorded by many different artists over the years. “This Land Is Your Land” became particularly popular during the folk music revival of the 1960s, when it was recorded by artists such as Peter, Paul and Mary, Joan Baez, and Nina Simone.