Roger McGuinn's Folk Den

mp3: We Shall Not Be Moved – Click To Play We Shall Not Be Moved is a lovely spiritual from the Southern churches in the 1800’s. It was extremely hard to find the original lyrics because for years it had been rewritten as a union song. The text is based on biblical scripture: Blessed is … Continue reading "We Shall Not Be Moved"

mp3: Happy Bears Quick Step – Click To Play Here’s a story that I tell in my one-man-show: When I worked for Bobby Darin in Las Vegas, I would follow him around and ask questions on how to make it in the music business. One time I mentioned that I’s like to get in the … Continue reading "Happy Bears Quick Step"

mp3: Love In March – Click To Play My wife Camilla and I met in an acting class in Beverly Hills CA. We fell in love in March and were married on April 1st 1978. This is our song about love in March. Lyrics:   * [D] In March, [F#m] when the world is reborn,  … Continue reading "Love In March"

mp3: If I Had A Hammer – Click To Play Pete Seeger and Lee Hays wrote this song in 1949. The Weavers had a hit with it in the 50s and Peter Paul and Mary got it to #10 on the Billboard charts in 1962. I’m posting this in memory of Peter Yarrow who passed … Continue reading "If I Had A Hammer"

mp3: Never Go Back – Click To Play This is a “contemporary” folk song that I wrote around 40 years ago. It’s a about the disappointment I’ve felt going back to old places, only to find buildings torn down and replaced by new trendy hotels with neon signs. Hoping to see old friends but finding … Continue reading "Never Go Back"

Jesu Joy.mp3: – Click To Play I first learned this tune from Pete Seeger’s “Goofing Off Suite” in the mid 1950s. Years later when it was time to make up a Rickenbacker introduction for Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” I used a few notes from this J.S. Bach piece which happen to match part of … Continue reading "Jesu Joy Of Man’s Desiring By J. S. Bach"

mp3: Vicar of Bray – Click To Play This is an 18th century satirical song about a clergyman staying in power no matter who was king. Here is a detailed annotation of the lyrics: Lyrics: [D] In good King [A] Charles’ [D] golden [A] days, [D] when loyalty no [A] harm [D] meant, [D] A … Continue reading "Vicar of Bray"

mp3: Star of County Down – Click To Play This lovely Irish song was written in the 1800s by Cathal MacGarvey from Ramelton, County Donegal. The tune is traditional and has been used in “Dives and Lazarus” as well as “My Love Nell” and the hymn, “I Heard The Voice of Jesus.” Lyrics: [Gm] Near … Continue reading "The Star of County Down"

mp3: Columbus Stockade Blues – Click To Play “Columbus Stockade Blues” is a classic bluegrass song written by Thomas Darby in the 1920s. Lyrics: Columbus Stockade Blues [G] Way down in Columbus, Georgia [D7] Want to be back in [G] Tennessee Way down in Columbus [D7] Stockade Babe don't you ever think of [G] me … Continue reading "Columbus Stockade Blues"

mp3: Blow The Candle Out – Click To Play “Blow The Candle Out” is an old English sailors song (though not necessarily a sea chantey) dating from 1724 or earlier and also known and sung in Ireland, Scotland, and the U.S. In this version a young man is about to enter military service for three … Continue reading "Blow The Candle Out"

mp3: Boil ‘Em Cabbage Down – Click To Play This is a rare recording of me playing with Bobby Darin and his band at the Coconut Grove nightclub in Hollywood circa 1963. I’m playing my Vega 5-string banjo and singing harmony. Lyrics: [G] Boil ’em cabbage boys[C] down, [G] turn the ho-cakes [D7]round [G] The … Continue reading "Boil ‘Em Cabbage Down"

mp3: Scottish Reel – Click To Play It is the Spring in the Northern Hemisphere and time for a Scottish Reel to dance in the refreshing season filled with birds, flowers and love. A wee bit of a dram might make it all the more delightful. My wife Camilla suggested that the Rickenbacker 12-string with … Continue reading "Scottish Reel"

mp3: Low Bridge Everybody Down – Click To Play The Erie Canal was America’s first “Super Highway” running from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. Construction began in 1817 and was completed in 1825. It ran 363 miles and created great wealth for New York City. Eventually railroads replaced it for commercial use. It … Continue reading "Low Bridge Everybody Down"

mp3: Copper Kettle – Click To Play A. F. Beddoe claims to have written this song in 1953 as part of the folk opera “Go Lightly, Stranger.” However Pete Seeger says he heard the song in 1946, sung by a tall stranger named Frank. Joan Baez learned the song from Bob Gibson and recorded it … Continue reading "Copper Kettle"

mp3: Old Time Religion – Click To Play “Old Time Religion” is a classic Spiritual from the Old South! It’s something to think about in these days of Scientific Delirium Madness! Lyrics: [G] Give me that old time religion, Give me that [D] old time [G] religion, Give me that old time [C] religion, Lord … Continue reading "Old Time Religion"

mp3: Stella Got A New Dress – Click To Play Bob Gibson wrote this song with Bob Camp in the early 60s. Gibson was my first influencer for folk music. In 1957 He came to the Latin School of Chicago and performed a 45 minute set that blew me away! I ran up to Louise … Continue reading "Stella Got A New Dress"

m4a: 1840 When We Were There – Click To Play 1840 was the golden age of sail. The ships were still mostly wind powered and required a great deal of physical labor to operate. The crews used work songs to coordinate their efforts. This song is new. I wrote it to capture the feel of … Continue reading "1840 When We Were There"

Mp3: Hard Travelin’ – Click To Play Camilla and I have been on the road since the beginning of September and are going to sea this week. We’ve been doing some hard traveling!!! This is a great Woody Guthrie song. Lyrics: [G] I’ve been havin’ some hard travelin’, I thought you knowed I’ve been havin’ … Continue reading "Hard Travelin’"

Mp3: 1842 – Click To Play One of my favorite sea chantey melodies is “Go To Sea No More” so I’ve written new lyrics to it about a packet ship during the golden age of sail 1842! Lyrics: [Em] In eighteen and [D] forty-two, our packet ship set Em] sail, With winds a-howlin’ through the … Continue reading "1842"

Mp3: Hey Lilee – Click To Play “Hey Lilee” is a song I played with the Limeliters on my first professional recording, “Tonight In Person.” We recorded it live at the Ash Grove folk club in Los Angeles in July of 1960. Although I didn’t receive credit on the album, I made a lot of … Continue reading "Hey Lilee"

Mp3: King’s Highway – Click To Play This is a gospel song I used to sing with a folk group I was in called “The Frets” in 1957. Johnny Carbo on 5-string banjo, Lou McDonald on conga drum and me on 6 and 12-string guitar. Johnny Carbo owned the Cafe Oblique coffee house where we … Continue reading "King’s Highway"

mp3: Happy Birthday – Click To Play The original song was “Good Morning To You” sung to teachers at the beginning of the school day. A dispute arose as to who the legitimate authors were and it was eventually taken over by Warner/Chappell Music who made millions of dollars in licensing fees for movies and … Continue reading "Happy Birthday"

Mp3: Do You Ken John Peel – Click To Play I learned this song in glee club at the Latin School of Chicago in the mid 1950s. The verses are a bit bloody so I left them out. If you really want them click on “Lyrics”

Mp3: Morris Dance – Click To Play There are more songs written about the month of May than there are about Christmas. This comes from the 17th century as a celebration of Spring. It is also a Morris Dance. The origin of Morris Dance is unclear but many think it comes from the Middle East. … Continue reading "May Morris Dance"

How do I download this mp3? mp3: Bold Archer – Click To Play Known in Scotland as “Archie O’ Cawfield” this song tells the story of an outlaw who is aided in escaping prison in the late 1700s and has a very happy ending! It has been well documented: [ Roud 83 ; Child 188 … Continue reading "Bold Archer"

How do I download this mp3? mp3: Jack Monroe – Click To Play Jack Monroe AKA (Jackie Frazer; The Wars of Germany) [Laws N7] Roud (268) A rich girl loves a sailor; her father does not, and has the boy pressed to war in Germany. She disguises herself in men’s apparel and enlists under the … Continue reading "Jack Monroe"

How do I download this Mp3? Mp3: The Balaena Great whaling song about a real ship The Balaena. It was a new ship built after the golden age of sail with an engine and it was very efficient. Lyrics: The Balaena Lyrics [C] The noble fleet of whalers [F] went sailing from Dundee [G7] Well-manned … Continue reading "The Balaena"

How do I download this Mp3? Mp3: Welcome Table – Click To Play I learned this gospel song, dating back to 1874 from Bob Gibson and Bob Camp at the Gate of Horn in Chicago in 1961. It refers to “the marriage feast of the Lamb” in the New Testament Book of Revelation 19:6-9. Lyrics: … Continue reading "Welcome Table"

Mp3: Mary Ann – Click To Play This is a traditional calypso song about a sailor looking for his lost love in Trinidad. Lyrics: All day all night Mary Ann Down by the seaside sifting sand Even little children love Mary Ann Down by the seaside sifting sand Sailing down through the islands man I … Continue reading "Mary Ann"

Mp3: Down On Penny’s Farm – Click To Play Got this from the Harry Smith Anthology of American Folk Music. This song feels appropriate because farmers are having a real tough time making a living these days. Lyrics: [G] Come you ladies and you gentlemen and listen to my song I’ll sing it to you … Continue reading "Down On Penny’s Farm"

Mp3: Well Well Well – Click To Play “Well Well Well” is an old gospel song that was revived by the folk community in the early 1960s and performed by many artists including Bob Gibson and Bob Camp, Peter Paul and Mary and the Seekers. Lyrics: [Em] Well well well who's that a-calling Well well … Continue reading "Well Well Well"

Mp3: Midnight Special – Click To Play Prison legend had it that if you were touched by the light of the Midnight Special train, you were bound to be freed from prison. “Midnight Special” was recorded by Lead Belly but had been around for at least twenty years before his version became popular. Lyrics: “The … Continue reading "Midnight Special"

How do I download this Mp3? Mp3: Aweigh Santi Anno – Click To Play Aweigh Santi Anno. The song is listed as number 207 in the Roud Folk Song Index. The theme of the shantey, which dates from at least the 1850s, may have been inspired by topical events in the news related to conflicts … Continue reading "Aweigh Santi Anno"

How do I download this Mp3? Mp3: Billy Boy – Click To Play The terms “Hillbilly” and “Red Neck” both originated during the Battle of the Boyne. England’s Dutch born King William III was known to his Protestant Irish followers as “Billy Boy” and his followers were called “Hill billys” and “Red Necks.” There’s a … Continue reading "Billy Boy"

How do I download this Mp3? Mp3: Road Through The Woods – Click To Play This is a famous poem by Rudyard Kipling set to a traditional folk tune. The arrangement is new in the style of the Byrds with rolling Rickenbacker backing and lead 12-string guitars. Lyrics: [E] They shut the [B7] road through … Continue reading "Road Through The Woods"

How do I download this Mp3? Mp3: Cotton Eyed Joe – Click To Play I first learned “Cotton Eyed Joe” at Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music in 1957. No one really knows what it’s about but speculation has it that Joe would come to a town and steal away a man’s sweetheart. The … Continue reading "Cotton Eyed Joe"

How do I download this mp3? mp3: My Country, ‘Tis of Thee – Click To Play An American patriotic song written by Samuel F. Smith while a student at the Andover Theological Seminary in Andover, Massachusetts in 1831. The tune is the same as the British anthem “God Save The Queen.” Lyrics: My Country, ‘Tis […]

How do I download this mp3? mp3: Angels from the Realms of Glory – Click To Play This is my adaptation of a 19th century classic Christmas carol, written by Scottish poet James Montgomery. Lyrics: [G] Angels, from the realms of glory, [C] Wing your flight o’er [D] all the [G] earth; Ye who sang […]

How do I download this mp3? mp3: Keep Your Hands On That Plow – Click To Play Luke 9:62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Guitar tuned down 1/2 step. Lyrics: [Em] Got my hands on the […]

How do I download this mp3? m4v: Macpherson’s Lament – Click To Play Jamie Macpherson was a Scottish robber, born in 1675, the illegitimate son of a Highland laird and a gypsy woman. When his wealthy father, who had raised him in his house was killed by cattle thieves, he went to live with his […]

How do I download this mp3? mp3: Whiskey-O – Click To Play Whiskey-O is a halyard chantey for raising the yards that hold the sails on the old sailing ships. The chantey man would sing the verse and the crew would pull the ropes on the chorsus. Lyrics: Whiskey is the life of man Always […]

How do I download this Mp3? Mp3: All Through The Night – Click To Play Traditional Welsh Folk Song Lyrics: [G] Sleep my [Em] child and [Am] peace [D] attend thee, [C] All [D] through the [G] night Guardian [Em] angels [Am] God will [D] send thee, [C] All [D] through the [G] night [C] […]

How do I download this Mp3? Mp3: Oh Sinner Man – Click To Play Traditional Spiritual Lyrics: [Em] Oh, sinner man, where you’re gonna run to? [D] Oh, sinner man, where you’re gonna run to? [Em] Oh, sinner man, where you’re gonna run to all [D] on that [Em] day? Run to the moon, “Moon, […]

How do I download this Mp3? Mp3: Shalom – Click To Play Every day we pray for the peace of Israel and joy in the streets of Jerusalem! This is an old Hebrew folk song I first heard from the Weavers. Lyrics: [Dm] Shalom, chaverim. Shalom, chaverim. Shalom, shalom. L’hitraot, l’hitraot, Shalom, shalom. English singing […]

How do I download this Mp3? HTMLFont size The Weary Whaler This is a sea chantey from the golden age of sail. There’s a youtube video of me singing it when you click on the VIDEO LINK below: The Weary Whaler – Click To Play MP3 Click to watch VIDEO LINK Lyrics: [Em] If I […]

How do I download this Mp3? Mp3: The Cowboy’s Dream – Click To Play My friend Bill Lee recently said, “You haven’t done a cowboy song for the Folk Den in a long time. So here’s one: Most people think “Cowboy’s Dream” is a traditional song by an anonymous author. I did some digging and […]

How do I download this Mp3? Mp3: Origin of “Kisses Sweeter Than Wine” – Click To Play This is the strange history of an obscure Irish ballad that became a popular song. I only played the public domain melody on my Rickenbacker 12-string with some 5-string banjo and bass thrown in. I left out the […]

How do I download this Mp3? Mp3: The Dodger Song – Click To Play “The Dodger” was used as a campaign song to belittle Republican James G. Blaine in the 1884 Presidential election between Blaine and Grover Cleveland, the Democratic candidate. Cleveland had won the support of progressives by his fight against Tammany Hall in […]

How do I download this m4v? m4v: Hush Little Baby – Click To Play This is a traditional Southern United States lullaby. The father promises many rewards for the baby’s silence. If one reward fails he vows to replace it with a better one. This marks the 25th Anniversary of the Folk Den with over […]

How do I download this m4v? m4v: Flowers In The Valley – Click To Play This is a traditional English song. I’ve created a little video with the lyrics to make it easy for you to sing along. Lyrics: Flowers in the Valley [G] There was a woman, [C] oh but she was a [G] […]

How do I download this Mp3? Mp3: The Keeper Did A-Hunting Go – Click To Play – Photo by Linda Lee This old English song (Roud 1519) dates back to the 14th century. A favorite of school children in the UK and abroad. The hunting of the doe in this song originally suggested sexual pursuit, […]