Lesley Nelson helmed Contemplator.com, which focused on traditional folk music of England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and America. As she explained on her website, her interest in history and folk music led to her creating pages focused on a variety of regions, eras, and themes.
This page ranks the 46 songs listed on Nelson’s page on “Traditional American Tunes” based on how many lists the songs are featured on according to Dave’s Music Database. Songs are identified by title, year of publication, and writers.
Click here to see other lists from critics and individuals and here to see other lists from publications and/or organizations.
1. “Amazing Grace” (1772) by John Newton
2. “The Battle Hymn of the Republic (aka ‘Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!’)” (1861) by Julia Ward Howe & William Steffe
3. “Home on the Range” (1873) by Dr. Brewster M. Higley & Daniel E. Kelly
4. “Yankee Doodle (aka ‘Yankee Doodle Went to Town’)” (1754) by Dr. Richard Schukburgh
5. “Oh! Susanna” (1847) by Stephen Foster
6. “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” (1863) by Louis Lambert as Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore
7. “Dixie” (1859) by Daniel Decatur Emmett
8. “The Yellow Rose of Texas” (1853) by Edwin Christy, John Kelly, & Don George
9. “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean” (1881) by Charles E. Pratt
10. “The Battle Cry of Freedom” (1862) by Geoge Frederick Root
11. “Polly Wolly Doodle (All the Day)” (1843) by Daniel Decatur Emmett
12. “Michael Row the Boat Ashore” (1863) traditional
13. “Red River Valley” (1895) traditional
14. “Shenandoah” (1837) unknown
15. “My Wild Irish Rose” (1899) by Chauncey Olcott
16. “Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That’s an Irish Lullaby)” (1913) by James R. Shannon
17. “I Dream of Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair” (1854) by Stephen Foster
18. “I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen” (1875) by Thomas Paine Westendorf
19. “Eternal Father, Strong to Save (The Navy Hymn)” by William Whiting & John Bacchus Dykes
20. “Lorena” (1857) by Rev. Henry David Webster & Joseph Philbrick Webster
21. “Dem Golden Slippers” (1879) by James A. Bland
22. “Taps” (1860) arranged by Daniel Butterfield
23. “Go Tell It on the Mountain” (1865) writer unknown
24. “Down in the Valley” (1835) by Frank Luther/traditional
25. “When You and I Were Young, Maggie” (1866) by George W. Johnson & J.A. Butterfield
26. “The Bonnie Blue Flag” (1961) by Annie Chabers-Ketchum & Henry “Harry” Macarthy
27. “Dill, Ye Terriers, Drill” (1888) anonymous
28. “I Gave My Love a Cherry” (1785) unknown
29. “Follow the Drinking Gourd” (1860) by Epe Sargent & Henry Russell
30. “Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie” (1910) unknown
31. “Goober Peas” (1866) by A. Pindar & P. Nutt
32. “Lily of the West” (1857) unknown
33. “The Lakes of Pontchartrain” (1900) unknown
34. “Sweet Rosie O’Grady” (1895) by Maud Nugent
35. “Chester” (1778) by William Billings
36. “A Life on the Ocean Wave” (1838) by Epe Sargent & Henry Russell
37. “The Greenland Whale Fishery” (1725) unknown
38. “Green Grow the Lilacs” (1800) unknown
39. “Aura Lea” (1861) adapted by Ken Darby
40. “All Quiet Along the Potomac Tonight” (1864) by Lamar Fontaine & John Hill Hewitt
41. “Come All You Fair and Tender Ladies” (1904) unknown
42. “The Rose of Alabama” (1846) by S.S. Steele/anonymous
43. “Skibberdeen” (1869) unknown
44. “I’m a Good Old Rebel” (1857) by Major James M. Dacy
45. “Lady Mary” (1930) collected by Carl Sandburg
46. “Molly and Tenbrooks” (late 19th century) unknown
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First posted 12/21/2025.
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