Midterm Songs Flashcards
Motherless Children Have a Hard Time
Blind Willie Johnson. this song speaks to the emotional pain faced by those who have lost their mother, rhetorically or literally speaking.
Poor Boy, Long Ways from Home
Gus Cannon with Blind Blake. Folk blue standard that reflects the experiences of black americans in the 20th century.
Another Man Done Gone
Vera Hall. traditional american folk song about a man who’s been imprisoned which impacts his loved ones.
Dowie Dens of Yarrow
Davie Stewart. Scottish ballad about love and revenge.
Wayfaring Stranger
Rhiannon Giddens. Traditional american folk and gospel song featuring a banjo.
Chisholm Trail
Woody Guthrie (yipee-yay). famous cattle trail used during the late 1800s by cowboys
The Last Living Rose
P J Harvey. explores themes of identity, patriotism, and the changing landscape of england.
Conversation with Death
Berzilla Wallin. Traditional appalachian ballad about a person talking to Death
My Soul is a Witness
Arizona Dranes, a gospel singer. the song is rooted in black american religious traditions
Dark was the Night, Cold was the Ground
Blind Willie Johnson. Conveyed intense emption without using words adds to the song’s raw and poignant impact regarding the crucifixion of Jesus
When That Great Ship Went Down
William and Versey Smith. Talks about the Titanic, its appeal lies in its storytelling connecting listeners to the human experience of it.
Gospel Train
Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet. traditional spiritual that uses a train journey as a metaphor for the spiritual journey toward salvation
Jesus Gonna Be Here
Tom Waits. the narrator expresses his belief that despite life’s difficulties, Jesus will come to offer solace and comfort.
Crazy Blues
Mamie Smith. This is the first commercial recording of blues music by an African-American singer.
Down South Blues
Clara Smith (lots of crackling). The song expresses sadness of a woman whose partner has left her.
The Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane
Fiddling John Carson. traditional American folk song about a view of rural life and lost love.
Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down
Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys. traditional folk song that helped shape the direction of bluegrass music and it’s popularity.
Mr. Tom Hughes town
Lead Belly. tom Hughes is being taken to court, highlighting themes of justice and inequality which lead belly would often address in his songs
Rock Island Line
Lonnie Donegan. song talks about the train’s high-quality cargo to a toll collector at the rock island line railway.
This Wild Old Life
Robert Pete Williams. the lyrics convey a senes of acceptance of life’s difficulties, reflecting harsh reality that blues singers often sang about poverty, oppression, and personal hardships
Death Letter
Son House. song laments the loss of the narrator’s loved one and is a testament to the emotional depth and authenticity of the blues tradition.
Thinking Blues
Bessie Smith. she paved the way for future female blues and jazz vocalists and regarded as one of the greatest singers in the history of American music.
Black Rat Swing
Memphis Minnie. one of the few female blues guitarists of her time.
Cross Road Blues
Robert Johnson. song depicts a man at a crossroads which is associated with folklore of making a deal with the devil in exchange for musical talent or other abilities.
been in the storm so long
Mary Pickney and Jane Hunter. spiritual originating in slavery, reflecting the hardships of slavery and the quest for freedom.
Three Little Babes
Texas Gladden. The singer sings a ballad on the theme of excessive grief keeping the dead from finding a permanent resting place.
Little Margaret
Rhiannon Giddens. traditional Appalachian ballad that captures the sad emotions associated with death and the departure of a loved one.
Bonaparte’s Retreat
The Doc Watson Family. Is just an instrumental song. originated in Scotland and evolved to American folk music
Silver Dagger
Dolly Parton. American folk ballad, possibly from Britain.
Coo Coo
John Snipes. instrumental banjo. A Traditional folk song from the Appalachian. The song features themes of longing, melancholy, and the beauty of nature.
Soldier’s Joy
Gid Tanner and His Skillet Lickers. A traditional Appalachian folk tune played as a fiddle tune. The title was used during the civil war to describe something the soldiers would use to escape the hardships of war (typically alcohol) (fast paced song with ups and downs)
Stewball
Unidentified. traditional folk song that talks about the prowess and victories of the racehorse stew ball, celebrating the triumphs of an underdog.
Last Kind Words
Geeshie Wiley and Elvie Thomas. Blues song talking about heartbreak and departure. notable for its unique and distinctive guiar playing such as fingerpicking
Spoonful c
Charley Patton. One of the earliest and most influential Delta Blues musician, the song talks about desire and healing power of love.
Hard Time Killin’ Floor Blues
Skip James. talks about the struggles of life during the great depression, preserving the delta blues traditions.
Hell Hound on My Trail
Robert Johnson. song is a story of Johnson selling his soul to the devil un exchange for musical prowess so the song contributes t his mysterious life.
See That My Grave is Kept Clean
Blind Lemon Jefferson. he sings about the inevitability of death and expresses a desire for a clean and well-maintained resting place. captures the essence of the blues as a means of expressing your life
Slavery Time
Lightning Hopkins. Became one of the key documents of the blues revival.
White House Blues
Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers. bluegrass song about the assassination of President McKinley
Georgia Rag
Blind Willie McTell. song provides a glimpse into the historical context of the time such as the themes of life in the South
Key to the Highway
Brownie McGhee. harmonica action. explores themes of heartache, loss and the desire to move on.
If I Had My Way
Reverend Gary Davis. blues song, intricate finger style guitar playing and vocals reflect the deep-rooted connection between religion and the black American experience
I Can’t Be Satisfied
Muddy Waters. blues track that solidified Waters as a bluesman and shaped the sound of electric blues.
I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man
Muddy Waters. blues that defined Chicago blues.
Spoonful w
Willie Dixon. reflects the social and economic challenges faced by black Americans during this time.
Wang Dang Doodie
Willie Dixon. blues song that implies a lively party aligning with the tradition of using colorful expressions in blues.
Wang Dang Doodle
Koko Taylor. established Taylor as a leading figure in the blues scene, calling her “Queen of the Blues”
A Sunday Kind of Love
Etta James. romantic ballad that captures the yearning for a love that lasts beyond one day. Lyrics convey a desire for a deep and fulfilling love, especially one that lasts like a perfect, leisurely Sunday.
Spoonful e
Etta James. song reflects the social and economic challenges faced by black Americans during this time.
The Boy Who couldn’t Hoe Corn
Alison Krauss and Union Station. traditional Appalachian song about a boy who struggles with simple farm chores
How Can a poor man stand such times and live?
Blind Alfred Reed. encapsulates the desperation and hardships of many during the Great Depression.
Decoration Day
Jason Isbell. refers to a southern tradition of Memorial Day when families gather to decorate the graves of their loves ones, becoming a backdrop to the family’s conflicts and the lasting impact of a violent history
single girl, married girl
Sara Carter and Maybelle Carter (guitar). Traditional American folk song in old-time genre. The song portrays the societal expectations and gender roles prevalent during this time as well as the attitudes towards women (fast paced “girlllllll”)
Can the Circle be unbroken (bye and bye)
Carter Family. gospel hymn that draws from the christian belief in the eternal nature of relationships and heaven
The Banks of the Ohio
Blue Sky Boys. American murder ballad reflecting love, betrayal, and tragedy themes
Caleb Meyer
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. Americana (incorporates folk, country, blues, and rock. it emphasizes storytelling) Welch’s approach to the song, with sparse instrumentation and a raw, emotional vocal delivery, captures the essence of folk and Americana music. (guitar and newer sounding–duet)
John Henry
Ed Lewis. axe hits every beat. Traditional folk ballad about John Henry who became a symbol of strength and resilience of the American working class, especially Black laborers, and his rendition has helped keep the story alive. The song has a tapping sound which represents the axe hitting the nail in the railroad.
Black Lung
Kathy Mattea. no instruments. Addresses the issue of coal workers’ black lung disease, their harsh working conditions, emphasizing the human cost of industrial practices.
Hillbilly Highway
Steve Earle. hiiiillllbillly highway. social commentary on challenges faced by working-class individuals, especially those in rural mountains
Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah
Ike Caudill. No instruments, transcended its religious context and has been pretty popular in churches.
The Last Words of Copernicus
Alabama Sacred Harp Singers. Sacred Harp has deep roots in the protestant churches of England and Scotland, where the democratic ideals of the Reformation held that everyone should have a voice in church.
Randy Lynn Rag
Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys. Fast violin playing then fast guitar playing. regarded as pioneers of bluegrass. song’s influence contributed to the evolution and recognition of bluegrass as a distinct musical genre.
Blind Willie Johnson. this song speaks to the emotional pain faced by those who have lost their mother, rhetorically or literally speaking.
Motherless Children Have a Hard Time
Gus Cannon with Blind Blake. Folk blue standard that reflects the experiences of black americans in the 20th century.
Poor Boy, Long Ways from Home
Vera Hall. traditional american folk song about a man who’s been imprisoned which impacts his loved ones.
Another Man Done Gone
Davie Stewart. Scottish ballad about love and revenge.
Dowie Dens of Yarrow
Rhiannon Giddens. Traditional american folk and gospel song featuring a banjo.
Wayfaring Stranger
Woody Guthrie (yipee-yay). famous cattle trail used during the late 1800s by cowboys
Chisholm Trail
P J Harvey. explores themes of identity, patriotism, and the changing landscape of england.
The Last Living Rose
Berzilla Wallin. Traditional appalachian ballad about a person talking to Death
Conversation with Death
Arizona Dranes, a gospel singer. the song is rooted in black american religious traditions
My Soul is a Witness
Blind Willie Johnson. Conveyed intense emption without using words adds to the song’s raw and poignant impact regarding the crucifixion of Jesus
Dark was the Night, Cold was the Ground
William and Versey Smith. Talks about the Titanic, its appeal lies in its storytelling connecting listeners to the human experience of it.
When That Great Ship Went Down
Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet. traditional spiritual that uses a train journey as a metaphor for the spiritual journey toward salvation
Gospel Train
Tom Waits. the narrator expresses his belief that despite life’s difficulties, Jesus will come to offer solace and comfort.
Jesus Gonna Be Here
Mamie Smith. This is the first commercial recording of blues music by an African-American singer.
Crazy Blues
Clara Smith (lots of crackling). The song expresses sadness of a woman whose partner has left her.
Down South Blues
Fiddling John Carson. traditional American folk song about a view of rural life and lost love.
The Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane
Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys. traditional folk song that helped shape the direction of bluegrass music and it’s popularity.
Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down
Lead Belly. tom Hughes is being taken to court, highlighting themes of justice and inequality which lead belly would often address in his songs
Mr. Tom Hughes town
Lonnie Donegan. song talks about the train’s high-quality cargo to a toll collector at the rock island line railway.
Rock Island Line
Robert Pete Williams. the lyrics convey a senes of acceptance of life’s difficulties, reflecting harsh reality that blues singers often sang about poverty, oppression, and personal hardships
This Wild Old Life
Son House. song laments the loss of the narrator’s loved one and is a testament to the emotional depth and authenticity of the blues tradition.
Death Letter
Bessie Smith. she paved the way for future female blues and jazz vocalists and regarded as one of the greatest singers in the history of American music.
Thinking Blues
Memphis Minnie. one of the few female blues guitarists of her time.
Black Rat Swing
Robert Johnson. song depicts a man at a crossroads which is associated with folklore of making a deal with the devil in exchange for musical talent or other abilities.
Cross Road Blues
Mary Pickney and Jane Hunter. spiritual originating in slavery, reflecting the hardships of slavery and the quest for freedom.
been in the storm so long
Texas Gladden. The singer sings a ballad on the theme of excessive grief keeping the dead from finding a permanent resting place.
Three Little Babes
Rhiannon Giddens. traditional Appalachian ballad that captures the sad emotions associated with death and the departure of a loved one.
Little Margaret
Gaither. Is just an instrumental song. originated in Scotland and evolved to American folk music
Bonaparte’s Retreat
Dolly Parton. American folk ballad, possibly from Britain.
Silver Dagger
John Snipes. instrumental banjo. A Traditional folk song from the Appalachian. The song features themes of longing, melancholy, and the beauty of nature.
Coo Coo
Gid Tanner and His Skillet Lickers. A traditional Appalachian folk tune played as a fiddle tune. The title was used during the civil war to describe something the soldiers would use to escape the hardships of war (typically alcohol) (fast paced song with ups and downs)
Soldier’s Joy
Unidentified. traditional folk song that talks about the prowess and victories of the racehorse stew ball, celebrating the triumphs of an underdog.
Stewball
Geeshie Wiley and Elvie Thomas. Blues song talking about heartbreak and departure. notable for its unique and distinctive guiar playing such as fingerpicking
Last Kind Words
Charley Patton. One of the earliest and most influential Delta Blues musician, the song talks about desire and healing power of love.
Spoonful c
Skip James. talks about the struggles of life during the great depression, preserving the delta blues traditions.
Hard Time Killin’ Floor Blues
Robert Johnson. song is a story of Johnson selling his soul to the devil un exchange for musical prowess so the song contributes t his mysterious life.
Hell Hound on My Trail
Blind Lemon Jefferson. he sings about the inevitability of death and expresses a desire for a clean and well-maintained resting place. captures the essence of the blues as a means of expressing your life
See That My Grave is Kept Clean
Lightning Hopkins. Became one of the key documents of the blues revival.
Slavery Time
Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers. bluegrass song about the assassination of President McKinley
White House Blues
Blind Willie McTell. song provides a glimpse into the historical context of the time such as the themes of life in the South
Georgia Rag
Brownie McGhee. harmonica action. explores themes of heartache, loss and the desire to move on.
Key to the Highway
Reverend Gary Davis. blues song, intricate finger style guitar playing and vocals reflect the deep-rooted connection between religion and the black American experience
If I Had My Way
Muddy Waters. blues track that solidified Waters as a bluesman and shaped the sound of electric blues.
I Can’t Be Satisfied
Muddy Waters. blues that defined Chicago blues.
I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man
Willie Dixon. reflects the social and economic challenges faced by black Americans during this time.
Spoonful w
Willie Dixon. blues song that implies a lively party aligning with the tradition of using colorful expressions in blues.
Wang Dang Doodie
Koko Taylor. established Taylor as a leading figure in the blues scene, calling her “Queen of the Blues”
Wang Dang Doodle
Etta James. romantic ballad that captures the yearning for a love that lasts beyond one day. Lyrics convey a desire for a deep and fulfilling love, especially one that lasts like a perfect, leisurely Sunday.
A Sunday Kind of Love
Etta James. song reflects the social and economic challenges faced by black Americans during this time.
Spoonful e
Alison Krauss and Union Station. traditional Appalachian song about a boy who struggles with simple farm chores
The Boy Who couldn’t Hoe Corn
Blind Alfred Reed. encapsulates the desperation and hardships of many during the Great Depression.
How Can a poor man stand such times and live?
Jason Isbell. refers to a southern tradition of Memorial Day when families gather to decorate the graves of their loves ones, becoming a backdrop to the family’s conflicts and the lasting impact of a violent history
Decoration Day
Sara Carter and Maybelle Carter (guitar). Traditional American folk song in old-time genre. The song portrays the societal expectations and gender roles prevalent during this time as well as the attitudes towards women (fast paced “girlllllll”)
single girl, married girl
Carter Family. gospel hymn that draws from the christian belief in the eternal nature of relationships and heaven
Can the Circle be unbroken (bye and bye)
Blue Sky Boys. American murder ballad reflecting love, betrayal, and tragedy themes
The Banks of the Ohio
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. Americana (incorporates folk, country, blues, and rock. it emphasizes storytelling) Welch’s approach to the song, with sparse instrumentation and a raw, emotional vocal delivery, captures the essence of folk and Americana music. (guitar and newer sounding–duet)
Caleb Meyer
Ed Lewis. axe hits every beat. Traditional folk ballad about John Henry who became a symbol of strength and resilience of the American working class, especially Black laborers, and his rendition has helped keep the story alive. The song has a tapping sound which represents the axe hitting the nail in the railroad.
John Henry
Kathy Mattea. no instruments. Addresses the issue of coal workers’ black lung disease, their harsh working conditions, emphasizing the human cost of industrial practices.
Black Lung
Steve Earle. hiiiillllbillly highway. social commentary on challenges faced by working-class individuals, especially those in rural mountains
Hillbilly Highway
Ike Caudill. No instruments, transcended its religious context and has been pretty popular in churches.
Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah
Alabama Sacred Harp Singers. Sacred Harp has deep roots in the protestant churches of England and Scotland, where the democratic ideals of the Reformation held that everyone should have a voice in church.
The Last Words of Copernicus
Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys. Fast violin playing then fast guitar playing. regarded as pioneers of bluegrass. song’s influence contributed to the evolution and recognition of bluegrass as a distinct musical genre.
Randy Lynn Rag
