Songbücher

Although this is probably of Irish origin, it was popularised in Scotland around 1715 by the famous blind Irish harper, Hempson, then touring there. The familiar 'scotch snap' rhythm dates from the ea...

Although this song is attributed to Lady John Douglas Scott, legend has it that it was composed by one of Prince Charlie's captured followers on the eve of his execution. The 'low road' is the way his...

Burns' poem was based upon a popular story (probably a folk song) and was published in 1794, although the original melody was not the well-known tune we know today. It has since become the traditional...

This river flows in Glen Afton between Afton Reservoir in the south and New Cumnock in the north of the Burns county of Ayr.

North and South Uist are islands in the Outer Hebrides.

The heroine of this song was a real person and the poet was in love with her; but she was to marry another.

The music to this song, written in about 1798, incorporates the traditional fishwives' cry of Edinburgh with the bells of St. Andrew's Church.

This is still often sung at partings of social gatherings in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Fiunary is on the Argyleshire coast.

A Mexican folk tune which has a typical Latin American rhythm.

This well-known American song was written by Daniel Emmett, one of the negro minstrels who were the popular entertainers of the 19th century. When the Civil War broke out in 1861 it was adopted by the...

This song commemorates General Sherman's famous Civil War march of 1864. Henry Clay Work also composed 'My Grandfather's Clock'.

Henry Clay Work (1832-1884) also composed 'Marching through Georgia'.

The composer of this song, Henry Russell (1812-1900), was actually an Englishman who travelled to America. The song became regarded as of American origin.

This popular song was written in the 19th century. It refers to the gold rush of 1849-56 in the first verse, when the first gold-miners were nicknamed 'forty-niners'.

This popular song was written in 1854.

This song, which was published in 1853, soon became very popular and was frequently sung in the minstrel shows of the time.

This is perhaps the best-known of Stephen Foster's songs, but like so many of his works, he withheld his name from the published version.

This song became popular on the American vaudeville stage. The 'tarriers' were Irishmen who blasted through the mountains to make the railways in the 1880s.

This beautiful spiritual has a theme of hope for a new life of peace in 'the promised land'.

This sea shanty originated as a work song, referring to the hoisting steam engine used to load cargo. These engines were known as 'donkeys' as they were very small - less than one h.p.

This simple folk song from the Appalachian mountains probably originated in England.