Folk music is the heart and soul of storytelling—an acoustic tapestry woven with truth, tradition, and timeless emotion. It’s the voice of the people, capturing the joys, struggles, and dreams of generations through poetic lyrics and simple, haunting melodies. Rooted in cultural history yet ever-evolving, folk music bridges the past and present with songs that speak directly to the human experience. Whether passed down through oral tradition or born from the pens of modern troubadours, folk music endures because it’s real—it’s honest, raw, and beautifully relatable.
In this Top 15 Most Popular Best Folk Music Songs of All Time, we celebrate the legendary tracks that have defined the genre and moved hearts around the world. These are the anthems of protest and peace, love and loss, simplicity and spirit. From the poetic power of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez to the gentle soul of Simon & Garfunkel and the rootsy charm of Woody Guthrie, each song on this list is a milestone in the rich legacy of folk.
Whether you’re drawn to its political passion or its lyrical depth, this list will take you on a journey through the best that folk music has to offer. Tune in and let the stories unfold.
1. “House of the Rising Sun” – Traditional (1933)
First recorded by Appalachian singer Clarence Ashley in 1933, this traditional ballad tells the story of ruin and regret in New Orleans. Though its roots stretch back to 18th-century England, the American version captured the raw emotion of folk storytelling. The song gained iconic status after The Animals’ 1964 rock adaptation, but its folk essence—narrative-driven, melancholic, and morally cautionary—remains untouched. Passed through generations, it stands as a testament to folk music’s power to carry timeless human experiences.
2. “Scarborough Fair” – Traditional (Published: 1670s)
“Scarborough Fair” is a centuries-old English ballad that found modern fame when Simon & Garfunkel reimagined it in the 1960s. First published in the 1670s, the song weaves a tale of impossible tasks between estranged lovers, using herbs as metaphors for emotions. Its hypnotic melody and poetic language evoke a sense of medieval mysticism. The song’s endurance speaks to the universality of longing and love lost, and its elegant structure makes it a jewel in the crown of traditional folk.
3. “Mr. Tambourine Man” – Bob Dylan (1965)
Released in 1965 on Bringing It All Back Home, “Mr. Tambourine Man” marked Dylan’s shift from protest anthems to introspective, surreal lyricism. The song’s dreamlike imagery and wandering tone reflect a search for meaning beyond the material world. Though covered famously by The Byrds, Dylan’s original acoustic version captures the essence of folk storytelling—vivid, personal, and mysterious. With its blend of poetic abstraction and musical simplicity, it became a cornerstone of the folk-psychedelia movement.
4. “Tom Dooley” – The Kingston Trio (1958)
Based on the real-life 1866 murder of Laura Foster in North Carolina, “Tom Dooley” was adapted into a mournful ballad and recorded by The Kingston Trio in 1958. Its release sparked a revival of interest in American folk music. The song’s simple banjo-driven arrangement and tragic narrative brought old Appalachian traditions to mainstream audiences. It’s not just a song—it’s a story preserved in melody, reminding listeners of folk music’s roots in oral history and communal memory.
5. “500 Miles” – Hedy West (1961)
Penned by Hedy West in 1961, “500 Miles” is a sparse and poignant expression of homesickness and poverty. With its repetitive refrain and minimalistic structure, the song conveys deep emotion in just a few words. It became a standard of the folk revival, covered by Peter, Paul and Mary and others. The train imagery and sense of helpless distance resonated with countless listeners, making it a quiet yet powerful voice for the displaced and forgotten.
6. “Turn! Turn! Turn!” – Pete Seeger (1959)
Set almost entirely to verses from Ecclesiastes, Pete Seeger’s 1959 composition marries ancient wisdom with modern folk harmonies. The song’s message of seasons and cycles speaks to change, loss, and hope with spiritual depth. While The Byrds’ 1965 version brought it to rock audiences, Seeger’s original folk setting gives it a meditative, almost sacred quality. It’s a rare song that finds harmony between scripture and song, tradition and transformation.
7. “City of New Orleans” – Steve Goodman (1971)
Steve Goodman’s 1971 ode to a slowly vanishing America is a bittersweet journey aboard a train bound for obsolescence. “City of New Orleans” paints vivid pictures of passengers, conductors, and fading towns. Its warmth lies in its mixture of nostalgia and realism—celebrating life’s rhythms while mourning what’s being lost. Arlo Guthrie’s 1972 recording brought it wider fame, but Goodman’s original captures the heart of a songwriter observing a beloved world in transition.
8. “Both Sides, Now” – Joni Mitchell (1967)
Joni Mitchell wrote “Both Sides, Now” in 1967, offering a poignant exploration of shifting perceptions and emotional maturity. Though Judy Collins first popularized it, Mitchell’s own recording later brought a deeper intimacy. The song’s lyrical brilliance lies in its ability to find beauty and sorrow in the same breath, examining love, life, and dreams from opposite angles. Its gentle melody and introspective depth helped define the confessional style that dominated 70s folk.
9. “The Sound of Silence” – Simon & Garfunkel (1964)
First released in 1964 on their debut album, “The Sound of Silence” was born in the aftermath of Kennedy’s assassination, echoing a generation’s silence in the face of tragedy. Paul Simon’s lyrics, layered with metaphor and melancholy, explore alienation and disconnection in modern life. Initially unnoticed, the song gained traction after being remixed with electric instruments in 1965. Still, its haunting acoustic origins showcase the raw power of folk to voice the quietest human fears.
10. “Danny Boy” – Frederic Weatherly (1913)
Written in 1910 and set to the traditional Irish tune “Londonderry Air” in 1913, “Danny Boy” is a heart-wrenching farewell that has touched generations. Whether interpreted as a parent saying goodbye to a child or a lover parting before war, its emotional ambiguity is part of its magic. The soaring melody and poetic lyrics speak to loss, longing, and enduring love. It remains one of the most beloved and frequently performed folk songs in the English-speaking world.
11. “Blowin’ in the Wind” – Bob Dylan (1962)
Released in 1962 on The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, this song cemented Bob Dylan’s place as a voice of a generation. With its deceptively simple structure and poetic depth, Dylan posed timeless questions about peace, freedom, and justice. “Blowin’ in the Wind” became a rallying cry for the civil rights movement, encapsulating a nation’s longing for change. Its repetitive refrain, subtle yet profound, challenges listeners to seek answers within themselves and society. Few songs have managed to inspire such widespread introspection with such minimalism.
12. “This Land Is Your Land” – Woody Guthrie (1945)
Woody Guthrie penned this American folk classic in 1940 as a response to Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America,” which he felt ignored the struggles of ordinary people. First recorded in 1944 and widely shared in 1945, “This Land Is Your Land” is both a celebration and critique of America. Verses often left out of schoolbook versions highlight economic disparity and social injustice. Guthrie’s straightforward lyrics and melody made it accessible, but its underlying message remains powerfully subversive.
13. “The Times They Are A-Changin’” – Bob Dylan (1964)
Dylan’s 1964 release was a thunderclap in the midst of political and cultural upheaval. Unlike his introspective ballads, this song was a direct call to action, aimed at lawmakers, parents, and critics of the changing world. The structure mimics a biblical prophecy, urging the old guard to step aside. Its urgency and poetic foresight made it an anthem not just for the sixties, but for any era marked by transformation. Dylan’s voice wasn’t just singing—it was leading a movement.
14. “If I Had a Hammer” – Pete Seeger & Lee Hays (1949)
Written in 1949 by folk legends Pete Seeger and Lee Hays, this song began as a plea for justice and equality. Although it gained wider prominence in the 1960s, its original post-war context speaks to labor rights and the hope of rebuilding a fairer world. With its rhythmic repetition and symbolic instruments—a hammer, a bell, and a song—it encapsulates the tools of peaceful resistance. The song’s message remains timeless: the call to act against injustice rings just as loudly today.
15. “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” – Pete Seeger (1955)
Inspired by a Russian folk theme and excerpts from a Cossack poem, Pete Seeger wrote this haunting anti-war song in 1955. Its cyclical structure—leading from flowers to soldiers to graves and back to flowers—creates a poignant meditation on the futility of war. Each verse unfolds with heartbreaking inevitability, making it one of the most enduring protest songs. Covered by countless artists, its message has crossed cultures and decades, always returning to that aching question: “When will they ever learn?”
Samuel Moore is a frequent contributor to Singers Room. Since 2005, Singersroom has been the voice of R&B around the world. Connect with us via social media below.
