American Ballads and Folk Songs - John A. Lomax

A book to cherish permanently. -- The New York Times.
With this ample collection of authentic ballads and songs, you can immerse yourself in the rich tradition and heritage of American folk music. Discover the diversity, spontaneity, free-flowing melody, and sheer invention of scores of songs sung by cowboys and convicts, lumberjacks, hobos, miners, plantation slaves, mountaineers, soldiers, and many others.
One of the remarkable features of this collection is its authenticity. Many of the songs were recorded on location by noted folklorist John A. Lomax and his even more famous son, Alan, as they traveled around the United States. The results are firsthand versions of music and lyrics for over 200 railroad songs, chain-gang songs, mountain songs, Creole songs, cocaine and whisky songs, reels, minstrel songs, songs of childhood, and a host of others. Among them are such time-honored favorites as John Henry, Goin' Home, Frankie and Albert, Down in the Valley, Little Brown Jug, Alabama-Bound, Shortenin' Bread, Skip to My Lou, Frog Went a-Courtin', and a host of others. An excellent introduction, notes on each song, a bibliography, and an index round out this extensive and valuable collection.
Musician, musicologists, folklorists, singers -- anyone interested in American folk music -- will welcome this treasury of timeless song gathered in one handy, inexpensive volume.