Songs that reference US Historical Events or American Folklore

[Ozimoto]

I will start this off with a rare song that is based on an old Dutch story that Washington Irving included in an early American Folk Tale compilation.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Oh, I bet there's a lot of good material here. This is about a tragic American event, a wildfire in Montana where a crew of hotshots lost their lives. (the band had a one off album, it is made up of solo artists Lucy Kaplansky, Dar Williams and Richard Shindell)

 

[nwhoopfan]

Maybe not all historical events are tragedies, but it seems to inspire songs.

 

[nwhoopfan]

How about a figure who was both historical and folklore? A number of songs about John Henry.

 

[Ozimoto]

Oh, I bet there's a lot of good material here. This is about a tragic American event, a wildfire in Montana where a crew of hotshots lost their lives. (the band had a one off album, it is made up of solo artists Lucy Kaplansky, Dar Williams and Richard Shindell)

The Mann Gulch Fire from 1949...

 

[Ozimoto]

Here is one that involves Connecticut history...

 

[Kaizen]

"American Pie" -- by Don McLean --Music and social history for the roughly ten years after Buddy Holly's death in 1959

 

[Ozimoto]

And on a lighter note....

 

[Kaizen]

"Fall Of The Peacemakers" -- by Molly Hatchet -- About several condemned "peacemakers", such as Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lennon

 

[Kaizen]

"In The Summer Of His Years" -- by Connie Francis -- About the JFK assassination

 

[Bama fan]

This one is about a mine in Nova Scotia, so I beg your indulgence, but the lyrics are heartbreaking.

 

[Bama fan]

Here is a tribute by Dion.

 

[Ozimoto]

One of the saddest days in West Virginia history.

 

[bluedevil]

The National Anthem.........

 

[Bama fan]

Chad Mitchell trio reminded us that you can't chop your poppa up in Massachusetts.

 

[Bama fan]

Chad Mitchel Trio again helping us with our history lessons:

 

[Bama fan]

Virgil Caine's story

 

[Kaizen]

It has been described as a Vietnam protest song, and poses a series of rhetorical questions about peace, war, and freedom.

 

[Bama fan]

Another take on a great song by the great Eva Cassidy

 

[Kaizen]

Mahalia Jackson live in Chicago a favorite of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Mahalia sang this at the march on washington just before King gave the I have a dream speech

 

[Bama fan]

Pete Seeger tells us about John Brown.

 

[Kaizen]

"This Land Is Your Land" is one of the United States' most famous folk songs. Its lyrics were written by American folk singer Woody Guthrie

 

[Bama fan]

Not the usual take on this bit of history

 

[Bama fan]

A famous name in American history ,Paul Revere, tells us about another not so glorious part of history,

 

[Mdoggie]