# Your Favorite Folk Songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 16, 2010, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-folk-songs/553945 "2010-09-16T07:12:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-folk-songs/553945/1 "2010-09-16T07:12:51Z")
I grew up on quite a few folk songs. Apart from the mandatory choir stuff in school, my mom used to play Weavers records and dance around with me in her arms when I was real little. Simon and Garfunkel covered much of these tunes as well. Not only this, but I have a certain respect for them as they tend to be very much a blue-collar, oral-tradition sort of flavor. From hard labor comes great songs. So let’s hear your favorites! Any culture is fine, sea shanties and the like count, as do slave songs and other gospel-type music. Here are a sampling of my personal favorites: [Drill Ye Tarriers Drill](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmQtqW4G28g) [Venga Jaleo (Weavers version)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHedTNbazgU) [Follow the Drinking Gourd](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoeVUYHooSw) [Go Down Moses (“Let My People Go”)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtLcELU1brA&feature=related) [Siulil a Run](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZP-4B7kHqA&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-folk-songs/553945/2 "2010-09-18T14:05:36Z")
Folk music isn’t something I know much about, but I’m surprised that **no one** has commented in this thread. Do these count? “Banana Boat Song.” “Wasn’t That A Time?” “Wimoweh.” Uhh…how about all those songs in _A Mighty Wind_? “Skeletons of Quinto?” Probably not, I guess. On the only Weavers album I own, my favorite song is called, “Wild Goose Grasses.” ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-folk-songs/553945/3 "2010-09-18T18:17:44Z")
[Catch the Wind](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihd2aKEUeac) and [Universal Soldier](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A50lVLtSQik), performed by Donovan. [Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h48LZ0HV6TI), written by Bob Dylan. But my favorite performance is this live version by Joan Baez with the Indigo Girls. [Draft Dodger Rag](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69iOxtAB-kw&feature=fvsr) by Phil Ochs. And of course, Alice’s Restaurant. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-folk-songs/553945/4 "2010-09-18T18:40:23Z")
I love the “St. James Hospital” family of songs. They’re related lyrically very closely to “The Streets of Laredo” and “The Dying Cowboy,” and more distantly to the blues song, “St. James Infirmary”. Here is [Doc Watson](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45aUFWdubTY) singing one version, but my favorite version has a slightly different melody and lyrics and is sung by Alan Lomax on his album, _Standing Pat_, which is an entire album devoted to the songs in this family. I also love listening to Alan Lomax’s collection of Southern prison songs. My favorite is [No More, My Lawd](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8HSSvvN230#t=1m22s). ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-folk-songs/553945/5 "2010-09-18T18:48:12Z")
Missed the edit window: Also, these two prison songs – [Early in the Morning & Prettiest Train](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXANnahUVjU). (Although I have a different version of “Prettiest Train”.) They’re so beautiful and sad. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-folk-songs/553945/6 "2010-09-18T18:51:37Z")
Not sure if these count, but… [Northern Line](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7glIgV60Ju4) [Paddy’s Green Shamrock Shore](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMdxG5dka4s&feature=related). I actually like the version by **Boiled In Lead** , but I couldn’t find it. [Over The Waterfall](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vFe7LGmBis) [The Great Historical Bum](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QZTNbyA4zk) (FFWD to 1:30. Actually, I like the version by **Odetta and Larry**.) [Gumboot Clogeroo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpNfmuplN_0) ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-folk-songs/553945/7 "2010-09-18T20:04:51Z")
i wish i was a mole in the ground ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-folk-songs/553945/8 "2010-09-18T20:25:25Z")
[The Marvelous Toy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLYefZkOMB0) ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-folk-songs/553945/9 "2010-09-18T20:25:51Z")
I listen to a lot of Irish folk - a lot of the Dubliners. Probably not too relevant to real Irish folk music today, but the original line-up in the 60s did more than anyone (apart from maybe the Clancy bros) to popularise Irish traditional music. They played 7 drunken nights on Top of the pops IIRC, sharing the bill with Jimi Hendrix. Some great, great songs. Also a huge influence on The Pogues, one of my favourite bands from recent times. Of modern folk artists I like Bonnnie Prince Billy a lot - not sure if he’d characterise himself as folk but it’s close enough. He used to be my favourite musician bar none and I’d listen to him all the time, but he’s had a run of weak-ish albums (IMHO) so I’m taking a break. His back catalogue is awesome though. ---
**Author:** ![Molotok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Molotok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Molotok)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-folk-songs/553945/10 "2010-09-18T21:14:08Z")
‘Karanfiel’ ‘Miserlou’ ‘Troika’ ‘Kalinka’ ‘Skye Boat Song’ ‘She Moved Through the Fair’ ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-folk-songs/553945/11 "2010-09-18T22:14:26Z")
[Peat Bog Soldiers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTRpfld45Pw) Twa Brothers Twa Corbies Goodnight Irene And another vote for Loch Tay Boat Song ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-folk-songs/553945/12 "2010-09-18T22:46:09Z")
[ul] _Shenandoah_ _Look Away, Over Yandro_ _Banks Of The Ohio_ _Greensleeves_ _Buffalo Gals_ _Dixie_ _Just Before The Battle Mother_ _Daughter of Rosie O’Grady_ _Clementine_ _I’ve Been Working on the Railroad_ _Oh Susannah_ [/ul] ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-folk-songs/553945/13 "2010-09-19T00:55:57Z")
Phil Och’s song “Changes”. [In this case sung by Gordon Lightfoot](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cybVspvzb9g) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-folk-songs/553945/14 "2010-09-19T01:56:06Z")
[Never Did No Wandering](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_vn48ZiO4k&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-folk-songs/553945/15 "2010-09-19T01:56:59Z")
Good stuff, folks. Some of these posts have ones that I totally forgot about. (And if you’re wondering if the songs you’re listing “count,” chances are they probably do. “Folk” is a pretty broad genre.) ---
**Author:** ![CWN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@CWN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CWN)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-folk-songs/553945/16 "2010-09-19T02:29:25Z")
A few of my favorites **[The Green Fields Of France](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntt3wy-L8Ok)** [**Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wzBlotbSeo&feature=related) **[City of New Orleans](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfxoM6trtZE)** ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-folk-songs/553945/17 "2010-09-19T04:19:45Z")
My dad had a lot of Clancy Brothers records when I was a kid. I’m partial to [“The Jolly Tinker”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHxltHWbUJE), [“The Irish Rover”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVs1WPkGXyo), [“Jug of Punch”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUgh4JuOJrg&feature=fvw) and [“Mountain Dew”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do2G5ACkWSg&feature=related), among many others. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-folk-songs/553945/18 "2010-09-19T06:15:58Z")
My parents had the worst taste in music: _The 101 Strings Play Art Linkletter’s favorite Waltzes_, etc. But tucked back in the massive Home Entertainment System was a dusty old LP by… **The Kingston Trio**. Ahhh… No links at 1 am. Maybe tomorrow. Or another fan’ll be by… ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-folk-songs/553945/19 "2010-09-19T12:00:33Z")
> [@gallows\_fodder](#): > > Here is [Doc Watson](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45aUFWdubTY) singing one version, but my favorite version has a slightly different melody and lyrics and is sung by Alan Lomax on his album, _Standing Pat_, which is an entire album devoted to the songs in this family. Stunning. Thank you.