Lesley Nelson/Contemplator.com: Traditional American Tunes

Lesley Nelson/Contemplator.com: Traditional American Tunes

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 Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: lists from critics and individuals Dave’s Music Database: lists from publications and/or organizations Contemplator.com “Traditional American Tunes” First posted 12/21/2025.

 

Theodore Raph The American Song Treasury

Theodore Raph: The American Song Treasury

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) Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: lists from critics and individuals Dave’s Music Database: lists from publications and/or organizations Theodore Raph (1964). The American Song Treasury: 100 Favorites First posted 12/17/2025.

 

Today in Music (1894): “Yankee Doodle” hit #1

Yankee Doodle (aka “Yankee Doodle Went to Town”) Vess Ossman

Writer(s): Dr. Richard Schukburgh (lyrics), traditional (music) (see lyrics here) Published: 1780s First Charted: June 2, 1894 Peak: 14 PM, 1 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 0.006 video, -- streaming

Awards (Schukburgh): Click on award for more details. Awards (Ossman):

About the Song: He was born Sylvester Louis Ossman in Hudson, New York, on August 21, 1868 and is considered “the foremost recorded ragtime musician of the original ragtime era.” PM Joel Whitburn’s Pop Memories describes him as “’The King of the Banjo’ from the 1890s to World War I.” PM He charted 27 times from 1894 to 1911, PM most notably with his instrumental version of “Yankee Doodle,” his first chart entry and first #1 in 1894. The song was published in the 1780s, but its tune is thought to be even older. It may have originated from the Irish tune “All the Way to Galway” or even a 15th-century song from Holland. The latter contained nonsense words in English and Dutch such as “Yanker, didel, doodle down.” WK The term “Doodle” appears in English in the early 17th century. It is thought to be derived from the word “dudel,” a Low German word which means “playing music badly,” or the word “dödel,” which means a “fool” or “simpleton.” WK The phrase “macaroni” from the song comes from 1770s slang for a macaroni wig. WK Finally, the term “dandy” referred to men who “placed particular importance upon physical appearance, refined language, and leisure hobbies.” WK In pre-Revolutionary War times, British military officers sang the song to mock the “disheveled, disorganized colonial Yankees with whom they served in the French and Indian War.” WK It played on a stereotype that American soldiers were simpletons who thought they wer stylish by sticking feathers in their cap. WK It was written by British Army surgeon Richard Shuckburgh around 1755. WK However, for Americans it became a song of defiance and national pride. Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Vess Ossman PM Joel Whitburn (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Record Research, Inc: Menomonee Falls, WI. Pages 345-6. WK Wikipedia First posted 6/25/2024.