About Folk Music: Stories Behind the Songs

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Folk Music Folk Music Folk Music 101 Artists & Styles Reviews From Kim Ruehl, your Guide to Folk Music Sure, there are a slew of contemporary songwriters constantly doing what they can to add brand new songs to the American folk vernacular, drawing from traditional melodies, pairing them with contemporary ideas. But the old songs - the ones with the staying power, which have been sung for generations - where did they come from? Here's a look at some of the most timeless and stirring songs in the history of American folk music, and the stories behind them... "Blowin' in the Wind" (Bob Dylan) Bob Dylan's great composition about the vitality of civil rights raised so many questions individuals were wondering in their own lives. Thus, it became and anthem and has been recorded time and again since the day it was released, by artists as variant as Joan Baez and Nickel Creek. Search Related Topics:  bob dylan  blowin in the wind  peter paul and mary "Goodnight Irene" (Leadbelly, the Weavers) Contrary to popular belief, Huddie Ledbetter (aka Leadbelly) didn't write "Goodnight Irene" - he attributed it to his grandfather, who probably learned it from someone else. But, along with the Weavers, he certainly helped to cement it into the minds of folksingers everywhere. Search Related Topics:  folk music 101  folk songs  folk music history "I've Been Working on the Railroad" Songs about work range from topics like fishing and cleaning to the hard labor of coal mining and railroads. Few work songs are quite so pervasive throughout American culture, though, than "I've Been Working on the Railroad". Learn more about this great song and how it found its way into our hearts and minds. Search Related Topics:  folk songs  folk music history  blackface "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" As baseball teams far and wide gather down south for Spring Training, this seems like a timely song to delve into. Where did "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" begin, and how did it become the standard sung before every single game everywhere? Learn more with this brief history. Search Related Topics:  folk songs  baseball  vaudeville Related Searches Folk Music Music Songs Folk Songs Listen to Music Violin Music Sheet Featured Articles Artists to Watch: Shannon Whitworth All About New Lost City Ramblers Classic Folk Albums: Ani DiFranco's Self-titled Debut Abigail Washburn Readies Theatrical Debut Review of Joan Baez - 'The First 10 Years' Mary Gauthire - 'Live at Blue Rock'   More from About.com 10 Easy Ways to Look Thinner Don't wait until you've lost those first pounds to make these simple, slimming changes. Read more...> Create a Shared Photo Stream Sharing your photo stream with friends and family is a great way to keep in touch. Read more...> This newsletter is written by: Kim Ruehl Folk Music Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Folk Music newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2012 About.com   Must Reads What Is Americana? New Releases to Watch Unreleased Townes Van Zandt CD Label Spotlight: Signature Sounds Great Folk Albums for Kids   Follow me on: Advertisement