What is the most beautiful folk song you’ve ever heard?
Herewith I offer a list of 25 of my top candidates, with links to brief audio clips. For this purpose, I am defining a “folk song” to be something that would likely be filed in the “folk” section of a Barnes and Noble music department.
Note that the criterion is “most beautiful”, not “favorite”, though of course there’s quite a large overlap between the two.
I am aware that my choices might be colored by the circumstances in which I first heard these songs as well as by their intrinsic merit. I also acknowledge, without a shred of embarrassment, that some might consider the overall tenor of this list to be shockingly lowbrow. Nevertheless, I believe every song on this list to be stunningly beautiful in its way.
Do tell me what I’ve overlooked.
Changes, written and performed by Phil Ochs.
Dona Dona, by Aaron Zeitlin and Sholom Secunda. The version linked to here is sung by Joan Baez, who spells it “Donna Donna”.
I Remember Loving You, by Luigi del Puppo and Tino Chumlovich, though often misattributed to Utah Phillips. Sung by Fred Holstein on this magnificent CD. (I am intentionally not linking to the highly inferior Tom Paxton cover.)
I Think It’s Going to Rain Today by Randy Newman. Sung by Judy Collins.
Jamaica Farewell by Lord Burgess, incorporating traditional melodies. Sung by Harry Belafonte.
Loch Lomond, traditional. Sung by Paul Robeson.
Danny Boy, traditional. Sung by Paul Robeson. There are of course many beautiful recordings of this song. The tune, called “Londonderry Air”, predates the lyrics. On the Robeson recording, the song is called “Londonderry Air”.
Moishele My Friend, an English translation of Moishele, Main Fraint, by Mordechai Gebirtig. There are many beautiful recordings of this song in Yiddish (the one linked to here is by Leo Fuld), but as far as I know this is the only recorded English translation. The performers are Eclectricity (Willy Schwarz, Miriam Sturm and Robert Lucas); I believe, but am not sure, that the translation is due to Schwarz.
My Father, written and performed by Judy Collins.
Nancy Spain, by Barney Rush. The link is to a lovely recording by Cu Chulainn, though there are many lovely recordings of this song, including Fred Holstein’s.
Nevada Jane, by Utah Phillips. I’m not sure which I love more, the Fred Holstein cover I’ve just linked to (from the Fred Holstein Collection) or the Bonnie Koloc cover (from the Remembering Fred CD). I’ve intentionally not linked to the original Utah Phillips recording, which is far less beautiful.
One For The Money. I have a vague sense that this was written by Woody Guthrie, though I’m not sure why I think this, and at least one web site says it was Travis Edmonson. Be that as it may, I was in love with this song decades before I’d ever heard of Fred Holstein, and when I was compiling this list, which is already quite Holstein-heavy, I was surprised to learn that he’d recorded it—and that like several other songs on this list it’s on the Holstein Collection CD. I’m not thrilled with this version (I’d really prefer to dispense with the singalong aspect) but can’t find a better one. The only alternative I’m aware of is a rather unfortunate effort by the Highwaymen, which Amazon seems to have mislabeled as “Chanson de Chagrin”.
Raisin Pie, written and performed by the magnificent Diane Taraz.
Rhymes and Reasons, written by John Denver and performed by Mary Travers.
Shoes That Fit Like Sand, written and performed by Diane Taraz. This is the title track from her first CD, which is a treasure from beginning to end.
Silver The Moon, another masterpiece written and performed by Diane Taraz.
Simple Gifts/Lord of the Dance. “Simple Gifts” is a Shaker hymn written by Elder Joseph Brackett. “Lord of the Dance” is a much later hymn written by Sydney Carter, to a very similar tune. This recording by Bill Crofut and Benjamin Luxon interweaves both songs. (Follow the link and skip down to the last track. Though all the other tracks are good too.)
Spanish Is The Loving Tongue, by Charles Badger Clark, performed by Judy Collins.
Streets of London, written and performed by Ralph McTell—though the Fred Holstein cover is even better.
The Dutchman, by Michael Smith. I never make it through this one without an emotional crisis. There have been many beautiful recordings of this heart-wrenching song, by Anne Hills, Liam Clancy and others. The one I’ve linked to here is by Steve Goodman, who recorded this song several times. This is the good one.
The Garden Song, by David Mallett. Performed by Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy.
The Last Thing On My Mind, by Tom Paxton. Performed by Joan Baez.
There But for Fortune, by Phil Ochs. Performed by Joan Baez. I like the original Phil Ochs recording too.
The Rose by Amanda McBroom. Performed by Bette Midler.
Today by Randy Sparks. This version is performed by John Denver. Why did Peter, Paul and Mary never cover this one? The most beautiful version I’ve ever heard was by (of all people) Dick Smothers, but I can’t seem to track down a copy.
‘King of Bohemia’ by Richard Thompson:
N.W.A. – Folk Tha Police
lol@Bennett Haselton
Junior Brown “Highway Patrol”
Ok, I’m sorry. I wasn’t being serious.
I’m not sure if this counts as folk as I’m a music illiterate, but I think this one is beautiful:
http://www.jamendo.com/en/track/166555
http://www.jamendo.com/en/track/166525 (this too)
“The Circle Game” by Joni Mitchell. Maybe not number 1, but higher than 26.
Aldebert: Good choice. Though I think I’d put “Chelsea Morning” even higher.
Prayer to Saint Peter (performed by various artists, most recently by Edwin McCain, but David Wilcox and John Gorka have wonderful versions)
I Saw My Youth Today by Richard Shindell
A Road Worth Walking Down by Greg Greenway
Hold It Up to the Light by David Wilcox (coming to Rochester next week!)
Seven Sisters by Brooks Williams
Thomas Francis by Johnsmith
Modest Needs by John Danley
… gosh, what a tough one!
filed under Americana
James McMurtrey “Rachel’s Song”
audio Spanish fly w a certain sort
soften ’em up w a 6 pack then drop this on ’em
Kings of Convenience seem to be missing from your list. Maybe “Singing Softly to Me” would be to your tastes?
Joni Mitchell – Coyote
Jesse Winchester – Biloxi
John Prine – Hello In There
Not So Much To Be Loved As To Love – Jonathan Richman
Mutineer – Warren Zevon (OK a bit out of genre)
Attics of My Life – Grateful Dead (maybe even more out but they were Robert Christigau’s favorite folk band)
Angel Band – O Brother, Where art thou
1. Bocarolle by Andrea Bocelli- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000YNQXJU/ref=dm_mu_dp_trk3
2. Quando Enamoro by Andrea Bocelli
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000V6RGT6/ref=dm_mu_dp_trk11
I hope they meet the definition of Folk Songs.
“Things the grandchildren should know” by The Eels is also good.
“Save The Whales In Placerville And Hickston” by David Munyon
Hallelujah, writeen by Leonard Cohen, but I forget who sang the best version. Used in Shrek though.
Ken Braithwaite: I own 27 versions of “Hallelujah”, which is indeed a gorgeous song. But I’d call very few of them “folk”, and with one exception those few are not among my favorite performances. The best covers include k.d. lang’s (who performs it as a torch song) and Jeff Buckley’s (as an electric-guitar meditation).
I think the best of the folk-inspired covers is Arooj Aftab’s, who uses simply her voice and acoustic guitar. So I’ll grant you her version :-)
@Ken Braithwaite, Rufus Wainwright performs my favorite version of “Hallelujah”, although Jeff Buckley did an excellent version too. Interestingly, Cohen’s version was (I think) the version in the movie, but Wainwright’s was the version on the soundtrack.
This would probably be my #1 – the Wainwright version, even though he’s not really a folk singer.
Other favorites:
“Lullaby”, by Loudon Wainwright
“Suzanne”, by Leonard Cohen
“Shirley”, by Billy Bragg
“Beeswing”, by Richard Thompson
“Annabelle”, by Gillian Welch – really, for me, everything by Gillian Welch.
You and I have discussed this, but it was over a year ago so I’ll take another stab….
There are a few folk standards I’d argue are lovely performed by just about anybody: “Greensleeves”, “Molly Malone”, “Ar Hyd y Nos” (All Through the Night).
That Barnes & Noble requirement makes other choices tough: so many heartwrenchingly beautiful songs are too far over the line into other genres, though I’d argue hard for a few: Eva Cassidy’s cover of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” (show tune performed as folk); Glenn Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman” (country with a folk feel); the Grateful Dead’s “Box of Rain” (folk-rock); Kristin Chenoweth’s version of “Wayfaring Stranger” (folk standard performed as jazz). Then there are the songs like “Hallelujah” with umpteen versions, only a very few of which could be called “folk”.
Sticking to songs/artists I think might pass the B&N test, here are some really pretty runners-up (alphabetical by artist):
“Down to the River to Pray”: Alison Krauss
“Wayfaring Stranger”: Alison Krauss & Union Station
“Hallelujah”: Arooj Aftab
“Morning Has Broken”: Cat Stevens
“Cantus”: Connie Dover
“Gentle Arms of Eden”: Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer
“Godspeed / Sweet Dreams”: Dixie Chicks
“Landslide [either version]”: Dixie Chicks
“How Can I Keep from Singing?”: Gordon Bok / Ann Mayo Muir / Ed Trickett
“Turning Toward the Morning”: Gordon Bok
“If You Could Read My Mind”: Gordon Lightfoot
“World Falls”: Indigo Girls
“Through the Years”: Janis Ian
“I’ll Have to Say I Love You in a Song”: Jim Croce
“Operator”: Jim Croce
“Time in a Bottle”: Jim Croce
“The Eagle and the Hawk”: John Denver
“Wild Montana Skies”: John Denver
“Both Sides Now”: Joni Mitchell
“the Circle Game”: Joni Mitchell
“Some Day Soon”: Judy Collins
“Turn, Turn, Turn”: Judy Collins
“the Grace Bailey” [instrumental]: Late Bloomers
“Jubilee”: Mary Chapin Carpenter
“Rhymes and Reasons”: Mary Travers
“the L&N Don’t Stop Here Anymore”: Michelle Shocked
“Annie’s Song”: Mollie Weaver
“Swimming to the Other Side”: Pat Humphries
“Blue Boat Home”: Peter Mayer
“Early Mornin’ Rain”: Peter, Paul & Mary
“American Tune”: Paul Simon
“Sycamore Tree”: Seanan McGuire
“Little Road to Bethlehem”: Shawn Colvin
“the Boxer”: Simon & Garfunkel
“Homeward Bound”: Simon & Garfunkel
“Scarborough Fair / Canticle”: Simon & Garfunkel
“the Sound of Silence”: Simon & Garfunkel
“In It for the Children”: Uncle Bonsai
Finally, here are a dozen (alphabetical order by artist) that take my breath away:
“When You Say Nothing at All”: Alison Krauss & Union Station
“Tanglewood Tree”: Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer
“Travelin’ Soldier”: Dixie Chicks
“Kirsteen/Christinn”: Gordon Bok
“Morning Morgantown”: Joni Mitchell
“Welcome Me”: Indigo Girls
“Ojo” [instrumental]: Leo Kottke
“Turn Around”: Malvina Reynolds
“God is a River”: Peter Mayer
“Christmas Dinner”: Peter, Paul & Mary
“The Queen and the Soldier”: Suzanne Vega
“Silent Night” [not the Christmas carol]: Uncle Bonsai
Big Star – Thirteen
I also like Elliott Smith’s cover:
whoa –
forgot to mention the hauntingly beautiful “Aloha O’e” written by Princess/Queen Lili’oukalani. My favorite version for now is this instrumental cover by the incomparable Mermen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mPX65-bR9k
A few favorites:
Marti Jones – Always
Nanci Griffith – Cold Heart/Closed Mind
Anne Bourne – Blue Ballet (nearly impossible to find, but I have it)
Leonard Cohen – So Long Marianne
Jane Siberry – Symmetry
Mary Chapin-Carpenter – early stuff from Hometown Girl, the rest is country
Sam Phillips – Reflecting Light (I consider this folk and the rest alternative)
Phil Ochs – Flower Lady (Or nearly anything else he’s sung; he’s so undervalued and unappreciated – he died way too young.)
Professor and Maryann – Not You Not Me
I agree with Ellen on many of her selections, especially those by Joni Mitchell, who distinguishes herself with the poetry of her lyrics. I would also add a few more to the list (these have a mild bias toward modern folk and those that have a guitar emphasis, but its just my revealed preferences): If (Bread), Leader of the Band (Dan Fogelberg), Vincent (Don Mclean), Heartbeats (Jose Gonzalez), Most of My Life (Katie Sawicki), For the Quiet (Sawicki), Ship (Sawicki), Miss Maybe (David Berkeley), Straw Man (Berkeley), All That You Have Is Your Soul (Emmylou Harris), Gravity (Alison Krauss & Union Station)—the final two border on country.