CLASSIC FOLK SONGS FOR KIDS

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