First published in 1964, this book collects lyrics and offers commentary for 100 American favorites from 1620 to 1958. The book presents the songs in chronological order but I have re-ordered the songs based on how many total lists these songs appear on in the Dave’s Music Database of standards. Publication years for songs are indicated, but no specific artist is attached to each song.
Click here to see other lists from critics and individuals and here to see other lists from publications and/or organizations.
1. “When the Saints Go Marching In” (1880)
2. “You’re a Grand Old Flag (aka “The Grand Old Rag”)” (1906)
3. “Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home?” (1902)
4. “Home on the Range” (1873)
5. “America the Beautiful” (1895)
6. “Give My Regards to Broadway” (1904)
7. “Yankee Doodle Boy” (1905)
8. “Yankee Doodle (aka ‘Yankee Doodle Went to Town’)” (1754)
9. “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” (1806)
10. “Oh! Susanna” (1846)
11. “Hello Ma Baby” (1899)
12. “After the Ball” (1892)
13. “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” (1863)
14. “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” (1894)
15. “Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis” (1904)
16. “Camptown Races (Gwine to Run All Night)” (1850)
17. “In the Good Old Summertime” (1902)
18. “The Yellow Rose of Texas” (1853)
19. “Auld Lang Syne” (1799)
20. “Daisy Bell (A Bicycle Built for Two)” (1892)
21. “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” (1873)
22. “On Top of Old Smoky” (1841)
23. “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain” (1870)
24. “Clementine” (1884)
25. “My Old Kentucky Home” (1853)
26. “Jimmy Crack Corn (The Blue Tail Fly)” (1846)
27. “The Sidewalks of New York” (1894)
28. “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean” (1881)
29. “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” (1927)
30. “In My Merry Oldsmobile” (1905)
31. “Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie” (1905)
32. “Skip to My Lou” (1832)
33. “My Gal Sal” (1905)
34. “Pop Goes the Weasel” (1853)
35. “The Marines’ Hymn” (1919)
36. “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny” (1893)
37. “Polly Wolly Doodle (All the Day)” (1843)
38. “The Man on the Flying Trapeze” (1867)
39. “Beautiful Dreamer” (1864)
40. “The Band Played On” (1895)
41. “Red River Valley” (1896)
42. “Shenandoah” (1837)
43. “On the Banks of the Wabash” (1897)
44. “Hail Columbia (The President’s March)” (1789)
45. “Listen to the Mocking Bird (aka “The Mocking Bird”)” (1855)
46. “My Wild Irish Rose” (1899)
47. “Buffalo Gals (Will You Come Out Tonight)” (1844)
48. “Mighty Like a Rose (aka ‘Mighty Lak a Rose’)” (1901)
49. “I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen” (1875)
50. “Froggie Went A-Courtin’” (1549)
51. “I Love You Truly” (1906)
52. “Greensleeves” (1580)
53. “Because” (1902)
54. “The Little Brown Jug” (1869)
55. “Dem Golden Slippers” (1879)
56. “Mary's a Grand Old Name” (1906)
57. “Go Down Moses (Let My People Go)” (1861)
58. “What Shall We Do with a Drunken Sailor?” (1740)
59. “Sweet Betsy from Pike” (1851)
60. “When You and I Were Young, Maggie” (1866)
61. “Oh Dear, What Can the Matter Be?” (1792)
62. “Billy Boy” (1800)
63. “Vive la Compagnie (Vive l’Amour)” (1818)
64. “Oh Promise Me” (1889)
65. “Tom Dooley” (1929)
66. “Long, Long Ago” (1843)
67. “The Rosary” (1898)
68. “The Girl I Left Behind” (1650)
69. “Blow the Man Down” (1849)
70. “Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes” (1616)
71. “Love’s Old Sweet Song” (1887)
72. “Wait for the Wagon” (1851)
73. “The Wayfaring Stranger” (1807)
74. “The Foggy, Foggy Dew” (1804)
75. “I Gave My Love a Cherry” (1785)
76. “Hinky Dinky Parlay Voo (Mademoiselle from Armentieres)” (1918)
77. “There’s a Tavern in the Town” (1883)
78. “Wabash Cannonball” (1882)
79. “We Gather Together (Thanksgiving Song)” (1630)
80. “Barbara Allen” (1622)
81. “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon” (1949)
82. “While Strolling Through the Park One Day (The Fountain in the Park)” (1884)
83. “Believe Me if All Those Endearing Young Charms” (1808)
84. “The Wearing of the Green” (1797)
85. “Bell Bottom Trousers” (1945)
86. “Flow Gently Sweet Afton” (1838)
87. “The Blue Bells of Scotland” (1800)
88. “The Campbells Are Coming” (1847)
89. “Dear Old Girl” (1903)
90. “Where Did You Get That Hat?” (1888)
91. “Down in the Valley (Birmingham Jail)” (1835)
92. “Careless Love Blues” (1925)
93. “Aura Lee” (1861)
94. “Annie Laurie” (1838)
95. “St. Patrick’s Day” (1865)
96. “All Through the Night” (1825)
97. “John Peel” (1820)
98. “Charlie Is My Darling” (1830)
99. “Cindy” (1857)
100. “Ida” (1903)
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First posted 12/17/2025.
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