This book features over 100 traditional American folk songs newly arranged for the ukulele, with chord diagrams and melody lines in tablature and standard notation. This extensive collection makes Favorite Old-Time American Songs for Ukulele a treasury of the best songs from the American tradition. Nothing in this book is out of range for novice ukulele players. The songs are in keys that are both easy to sing and that fit the melodic range of the ukulele. Of course, not every voice sings comfortably in every key, so information on transposition and a short discussion for players of the baritone ukulele are included. Although you do not need to read music or tablature to use this book, short introductions to each are included. In putting together this collection, the author was inspired by the old American practice of making a sampler: an endearing needlework design showing off various stitches and techniques.

The book presents a sampling of the best American songs for folks working in schools, churches, hospitals, coffeehouses and other public performance spaces, or for anyone wishing to expand their repertoire and brush up on a few old chestnuts. There's a little of everything here: sentimental old hearth songs, laments and lullabies, ballads and play-parties, the sacred and profane. The overwhelming majority of songs come from pre-industrial rural traditions, because this is the kind of music that seems to go well with homemade music-making in any age. Downloadable audio of 18 of the songs is available online.

Foreword

Introduction to Reading Tablature

A Brief Word About Musical Notation

How to Transpose

What About Baritone Ukes?

The Unquiet Grave – Ballads and Story Songs

Jenny Fair Gentle Rosemarie

Barb’ry Allen

The Lady From York

The King’s Daughter Fair

The Banks of the Ohio

The Unquiet Grave

The Farmer’s Curst Wife

Fennario

The Two Sisters

One Morning in May

Lady Mary

The Devil’s Questions

Little Mattie Groves

Chicken’s Crowin’ on Sourwood Mountain — Songs From the Southern Highlands

Shady Grove

Sourwood Mountain

The Cuckoo

Tom Dooley

Groundhog

Same Old Man

Omie, Let Your Bangs Hang Down

Cold Rain and Snow

Cindy

Cripple Creek

Oh, Death

Old Joe Clark

Chickens are a-Crowin’

Little Old Sod Shanty – Songs of The Frontier

When First Unto This Country

Red River Valley

In the Good Old Colony Days

The Young Man Who Wouldn’t Hoe Corn

The Sow Took the Measles

Kansas Boys

Alsea Girls

Home on the Range

Acres of Clams

Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie

Beulah Land

Dakota Land

Sweet Betsy From Pike

Little Old Sod Shanty

The Shanty Man’s Life – Working on the Land and Sea

John Henry

Haul Away, Joe

The Little Brown Bulls

Boatman Dance

The Glendy Burk

Shenandoah

The Shantyman’s Life

The Erie Canal

Whoopie Ti Yi Yo

The Drunken Sailor

The E-Ri-E

Blood Red Roses

Pie in the Sky

The Greenland Whale Fishery

No More Will I Work in the Factory

I’m a Rambler, I’m a Gambler — Songs of Good Times and Bad Whiskey

Darling Cory

Frankie and Johnnie

Bonnie Black Bess

Camptown Races

I’m a Rambler, I’m a Gambler

Handsome Molly

Jack o’ Diamonds

Jimmy Crack Corn

Hallelujah, I’m a Bum

Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down

Nearer My God To Thee – Songs of Faith and Hope

Wondrous Love

Little David, Play on Your Harp

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands

Amazing Grace

Let My People Go

Hold On

Poor Wayfaring Stranger

Simple Gifts

Steal Away

Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen

I’m On My Way

All Night, All Day

Nearer, My God, To Thee

There’s a Little Wheel a-Turnin’

My Country, ‘Tis Of Thee – Songs of Freedom and Strife

The Girl I Left Behind Me

When Johnny Comes Marching Home

Eating Goober Peas

Yankee Doodle

All Are Talking of Utah

The Yellow Rose of Texas

The Texas Rangers

The Battle Hymn of the Republic

John Brown’s Song

Dixie

Follow the Drinking Gourd

Tenting Tonight

America (My Country ‘Tis of Thee)

It’s Love, Oh Careless Love — Songs of the Restless Heart

Aura Lee

Beware, Oh Take Care

Down in the Valley

Wedding Dress

My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean

On Top of Old Smokey

There’s More Pretty Girls Than One

The Buggerboo

Careless Love

The Riddle Song

The Wagoner’s Lad

Oh, Can’t You Hear That Turtle Dove

Old Dog Tray

Silver Threads Among the Gold

Froggie Went a-Courtin’ — Just For Fun

Polly Wolly Doodle

The Crawdad Song

Quit Kickin’ My Dog Around

Reuben and Rachel

Froggie Went a-Courtin’

Fod

Turkey in the Straw

Clementine

I Wish I Was a Mole in the Ground

Old Dan Tucker

Little Liza Jane

Go Tell Aunt Rhody

Shoo, Fly, Don’t Bother Me

About the Author

Alphabetical Song List