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Folk Songs in Five Languages

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Folk Songs: Five Languages & Cultures

The term "folk music" is derived from the German word "Volk", which means "of the people"; hence, folk music literally means "the people's music." Folk songs and music express and reflect the culture of particular ethnic groups, or in some cases, entire nations. If you are learning a new language, it helps to also listen to songs whose lyrics are written in the language you are studying, as this will open a window into the culture and soul of the people who speak that language.

I will be featuring folk songs sung in the following languages: English, Spanish, German, French and Italian. Some of the songs that have been selected are children's songs. Many more songs and artists could have been selected - there are a lot of great folk songs and singers out there!

{Photo of Joan Baez(dated 1963); public domain photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.}
Article copyright Heidi Brault.
© 2011 Heidi Brault. All Rights Reserved
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American and Canadian Folk Songs: English

Canadian and American Folk Music

These videos feature a mix of American and Canadian folk songs: The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, written by Canadian musician Robbie Robertson and sung by Joan Baez; Where Have All the Flowers Gone, performed by Pete Seeger; This Land is Your Land, performed by Arlo Guthrie and Pete Seeger (written by Woody Guthrie); If I Had a Hammer, written by Pete Seeger and performed by Peter, Paul and Mary; Blowing in the Wind, written and performed by Bob Dylan; Four Strong Winds, sung by Ian and Sylvia Tyson (composed by Ian Tyson); Canadian Railroad Trilogy, written and performed by Gordon Lightfoot.
Joan Baez - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
by zhexyc | video info

7,201 ratings | 2,955,280 views
curated content from YouTube

Folk Musicians & Social Causes

Joan Baez and Bob Dylan

Joan Baez and Bob Dylan

Photo of Joan Baez and Bob Dylan at the Civil Rights March in Washington, 1963.
{Photo in the public domain, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Music & Culture


"The truest expression of a people is in its dance and music."

{Agnes de Mille} QuoteWorld

Spanish, Cuban, and Mexican Folk Songs

Spanish, Cuban and Mexican Folk Music

These videos feature a mix of Cuban, Mexican and Spanish folk songs: Guantanamera, written by Cuban poet Jose Marti and sung by Pete Seeger; Cielito Lindo, sung by Anacani, is Mexican; La Llorona, sung by Chavela Vargas, is a Spanish folk song; La Valentina, sung by Jorge Negrete, is a mariachi drinking song and is also a Spanish folk song; and La Paloma was written by Spanish composer Sebastian Iradier.
PETE SEEGER Guantanamera
by VeryMagnus | video info

191 ratings | 64,052 views
curated content from YouTube

Music & Language


"Music is the universal language
of mankind."

{Henry Wadsworth Longfellow} ThinkExist.com

German and Austrian Folk Songs

Austrian and German Folk Music

The following videos feature a variety of German and Austrian folk songs: "Muss Ich Denn", sung by Helmut Lotti; "Heidi", a traditional children's song; "Seeman", a German folk song sung by Lolita; "Ach Die Lieber Augustin", sung by Gunter Frei; and a medley, sung by Maria and Margot Hellwig.

"Muss Ich Denn" is the original German version of the song "Wooden Heart", which was popularized by Elvis Presley. I had to include the "Heidi" song since my name is Heidi :)
Helmut Lotti - Muss I denn
by murrayrussia | video info

98 ratings | 46,604 views
curated content from YouTube

You and the Music


"You are the music while the music lasts."

{T.S. Eliot} ThinkExist.com

French Folk Songs

French and French-Canadian Folk Music

These videos feature the following French folk songs: La destinee, la rose au bois, which used to be sung by lumberjacks; Pour un instant, performed by Quebec's Harmonium; Le picbois, performed by Quebec's Beau Dommage; and Sur le pont d'Avignon, a traditional children's song. "Sur le pont d'Avignon" refers to a bridge in Avignon, France.
"La destinée, la rose au bois" (Chanson à répondre) (avec paroles)
by fenicnarfabc | video info

44 ratings | 39,702 views
curated content from YouTube

Music and the Soul


Music is the vernacular of the human soul."

{Geoffrey Latham} ThinkExist.com

Italian Folk Songs

Italian Folk Music

These videos feature the following Italian folk songs: Ciuri ciuri, sung by Amalia Rodrigues; La Tarantella, sung by Amalia Rodrigues; La Ricciolina, a traditional Italian song; Zooma Zooma Baccala, performed by Sicilian musicians; Luna mezza mare, sung by Dean Martin; and Marina, by Rocco Granata.
Ciuri ciuri (Italian folk song) Amalia Rodrigues
by Gianouno | video info

116 ratings | 108,592 views
curated content from YouTube

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{Photo of Joan Baez, image credit AllPosters.com}

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My guestbook is open for comments from visitors and Squidoo members. Let me know you've dropped by!

  • AngryBaker Jan 31, 2012 @ 1:21 pm | delete
    I grew up listening to German Folk music...
  • veryirie Jan 24, 2012 @ 5:27 pm | delete
    Folk songs say what we sometimes have a hard time saying......and they say it in the most memorable ways.
  • Brite-Ideas Jan 23, 2012 @ 10:23 pm | delete
    Really nice job, and such a unique topic.
  • hntrssthmpsn Jan 23, 2012 @ 7:00 pm | delete
    This is so cool! I'm a fan of folk music, but realized after seeing this that I've been very narrowly focused on American folk music. Time to broaden my collection!
  • Vintervarg Jan 17, 2012 @ 8:03 am | delete
    Thank you for the info! I enjoyed the quotes on music. Feel free to check my lens on modern folk bands and let me know how what you think about it:-)
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Although I have written a number of travel articles on Italy and Spain, I have also created lenses on music, European geography, travel gifts, spirituality, fashion, decor and Halloween costumes.
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traveller27

Hello! My passions include traveling(especially to Europe), spiritual development, singing/music, travel writing, and foreign languages. My career pat... more »

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