In Classic Folk Songs for Kids, curator Jeff Place culls a cross-section of 26 classics from the Smithsonian Folkways vaults to tell an intriguing story of American signature sing-alongs. The songs’ origins are as fascinating as the songs are fun: centuries-old European ballads, an American Revolutionary tune, 19th-century American folksongs, African-derived game songs, a sea chantey, a railroad jingle, camp songs, and even an opera song! And the singers themselves are a who’s who of American folk music artistry—Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, Cisco Houston, Suni Paz, Tom Glazer, Lord Invader, and many more. 56 minutes, 40-page booklet with lyrics.
Froggie Went a-Courtin’ Elizabeth Mitchell 03:49
Polly Wolly Doodle Pete Seeger, Bess Hawes, and Tom Glazer 01:51
Skip to My Lou Lead Belly 02:15
I’ve Been Working on the Railroad Ella Jenkins 01:27
She’ll Be Comin’ ’Round the Mountain Sarah Lee Guthrie and Family 02:44
John Henry Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry 04:08
Brown Girl in the Ring Lord Invader 01:49
Old King Cole Jean Ritchie 01:11
Green Grass Grows All Around Sam Hinton 02:25
La rana (The Frog) Suni Paz 02:05
I Had a Rooster Pete Seeger 03:55
Go Tell Aunt Rhody The Ritchie Family 01:45
Miss Mary Mack Ella Jenkins 01:59
Yankee Doodle Pete Seeger 01:41
Rock Island Line Snooks Eaglin 02:06
Big Rock Candy Mountain Tom Glazer 03:10
On Top of Old Smoky Pete Seeger 02:19
Crawdad Hole Cisco Houston 02:17
Oh Susannah Pete Seeger 01:18
Goober Peas Tom Glazer 02:03
Arroz con leche (Rice and Milk) Young Mexican girls 00:37
Riding in My Car Elizabeth Mitchell 02:49
Whoopie Ti-Yi-Yo, Get Along Little Dogies Cisco Houston 02:05
Home on the Range Pete Seeger 01:51
Shenandoah Alan Mills 02:45