Sixty of American composer Stephen Collins Foster's (1826-1864) best-loved songs in the composer's original piano arrangements with added guitar chords. The texts have been revised to capture the spirit Foster intended, eliminating obsolete or objectionable lyrics. A detailed introduction by musicologist Steven Saunders describes both Foster's biography and the traditions surrounding nineteenth-century popular songs. Well-known Foster songs like Camptown Races, Oh Susanna, and Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair are included, along with a number of pieces that have been popularized by contemporary recordings such as Slumber My Darling and Hard Times Come Again No More. Songs never before included in published collections, like The Voice of By Gone Days, Turn Not Away, and Willie We Have Missed You, provide singers the opportunity to become familiar with new titles. The collection demonstrates Foster's range as a writer of parlor songs, comedic ballads, Civil War tunes, and religious hymns.

Ah! May the Red Rose Live Alway      
Angelina Baker      
Beautiful Child of Song      
Beautiful Dreamer      
Camptown Races      
Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming      
Come with Thy Sweet Voice Again      
Comrades, Fill No Glass for Me      
Don’t Bet Your Money on the Shanghai      
Down Among the Cane-Brakes      
Ellen Bayne      
Farewell My Lilly Dear      
Gentle Annie      
Grandpa’s in the Cold Ground      
Hard Times Come Again No More      
I’m Nothing But a Plain Old Soldier      
I'll Be a Soldier      
If You've Only Got a Moustache      
Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair      
Katy Bell      
Laura Lee      
Linger in Blissful Repose      
Maggie by My Side      
Melinda May      
Molly Do You Love Me?      
Mr. & Mrs. Brown      
My Old Kentucky Home, Good-Night!      
My Wife Is a Most Knowing Woman      
Nelly Bly      
Nelly Was a Lady      
No One to Love      
None Shall Weep a Tear for Me      
Oh! Boys, Carry Me 'Long      
Oh! Susanna      
Old Dog Tray      
Old Folks at Home (Way Down Upon the Swanee River)      
Old Memories      
Open Thy Lattice Love      
Poor Old Joe (Old Black Joe)      
Slumber My Darling      
Some Folks      
Summer Longings      
Sweetly She Sleeps, My Alice Fair      
That's What's the Matter      
The Glendy Burk      
The Hour for Thee and Me      
The Pure, the Bright, the Beautiful      
The Voice of By Gone Days      
The Voices That Are Gone      
There Are Plenty of Fish in the Sea      
There’s a Good Time Coming      
Thou Art the Queen of My Song      
Turn Not Away      
Under the Willow She’s Sleeping      
Was My Brother in the Battle?      
We Are Coming, Father Abraam      
When This Dreadful War Is Ended      
Willie Has Gone to the War      
Willie We Have Missed You      
Wilt Thou Be Gone, Love?