A Folk Song A Day Explained

A Folk Song A Day
Language:	English
Updates:	Daily
Genre:	Folk music, Music podcast
Fetchwikidata:	ALL

A Folk Song a Day was a project by the English folk singer and musician and Bellowhead member^[1] Jon Boden where he recorded and released a folk song each day for one year.^[2] The project ended on 24 June 2011.

About

The project started on 24 June 2010.^[3] It has resulted in 12 digital albums (one for each month).^[4] Boden hopes that it will promote social singing and be a resource for those looking for inspiration.^[5]

The songs can be bought in the form of digital download from Amazon or from iTunes.^[6] The project reached number one in the iTunes music podcast in its first week.^[7]

The songs

A Folk Song A Day 1: July 2010

• Tyne Of Harrow 05:18
• The Hunt Is Up 03:06
• I Wish That The Wars Were All Over 02:45
• Blackwaterside 02:03
• Barbara Allen 05:18
• Cruel Mother 05:49
• Chickens In The Garden 02:20
• Across The Line 02:54
• Pretty Cock / As I Stood Under My Love's Window 02:27
• Banks Of Green Willow 04:24
• Danny Dever 04:41
• Mercedes Benz 01:56
• Rambling Sailor 02:42
• Yellow Roses 03:20
• Big Steamers 02:24
• Lucy Wan 03:30
• Come Write Me Down 02:52
• The Bloody Gardener 03:42
• Go And Leave Me 03:26
• Rain It Rains 03:26
• Stonecutter Boy 01:49
• Sally Free And Easy 03:19
• Young Edward In The Lowlands 03:54
• Old Tom Moor 05:00
• Tha' Lowks A Proper Swell 05:18
• Banks Of Red Roses 02:20
• A Blacksmith Courted Me 03:22
• Maid Of Australia 04:27
• Child Morris 07:04
• The Old Songs 04:23
• Tom Padget 03:49

A Folk Song A Day 2: August 2010

• (Now) Westlin Winds 03:43
• Two Young Brethren 02:09
• The Land 06:14
• Greenland Whale Fishery 03:22
• Brown Adam 04:24
• Shepherd of the Downs 04:09
• Derry Gaol 03:04
• Frankie's Trade 04:26
• Ca the Ewes 02:51
• Two Pretty Boys 02:26
• Cruel Knife 02:42
• Nostradamus 05:32
• Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy 03:28
• Bold Sir Rylas 03:07
• Dream of Napoleon 03:34
• Live Not Where I Love 03:45
• Polly Vaughan 02:35
• Saucy Sailor 02:53
• Abroad for Pleasure 01:43
• Oggy Man 02:21
• Golden Glove 03:51
• Country Life 01:45
• Rolling Down to Old Maui 03:41
• Jordan Is a Hard Road 02:59
• Leave Her Johnny 02:40
• Doleful Dance of Death 02:58
• Randal 03:38
• Bonny House of Airlie 03:20
• Yorkshire Couple 02:26
• William Taylor 03:09
• Yarmouth Town 02:32

A Folk Song A Day 3: September 2010

• The Prentice Boy 02:49
• Light Dragoon 02:57
• London Waterman 02:14
• Noah's Ark Shanty 02:11
• King of Rome 02:56
• On a Monday Morning 02:29
• Fakenham Fair 03:30
• Rambling Robin 01:45
• In the Shade of the Old Harris Mill 02:34
• Sleep On Beloved 03:08
• Hey John Barleycorn 03:05
• Fathom the Bowl 03:07
• Water Is Wide 02:47
• The Rigs of the Time 02:53
• On Board 98 04:20
• Oats and Beans and Barley Grows 00:49
• The Irish Ballad (Rickety Tickety Tin) 02:20
• The Bush Girl 04:10
• The Lord Will Provide 02:19
• NaCl 01:56
• Down Where the Drunkards Roll 03:25
• The Trees They Do Grow High 02:25
• Blood Red Roses 02:13
• A-Begging I Will Go 02:51
• 10,000 Miles Away 02:13
• Sparrow 01:42
• Three Ravens 03:04
• Waltzing Matilda 03:21
• Brisk Young Widow 01:57
• All of a Row 02:14
• Barbaree (Bonus Song) 03:32

A Folk Song A Day 4: October 2010

• Prickle-Eye Bush 03:06
• The Huntsman 05:10
• Deep Blue Sea 03:38
• New York Girls 03:12
• Jersey Girl 04:07
• The Poor Man's Labours 01:46
• Bay of Biscay 02:46
• Gallant Hussar 03:18
• The Constant Lovers 05:17
• Hunting the Hare 01:12
• Courting Too Slow 03:51
• The Dawn of the Day 02:40
• The Sheepstealer 02:30
• Marrowbones 02:47
• Old Joe Clark 01:49
• Bill Brown 04:19
• Johnny's Gone to Hilo 03:23
• Sea Coal 03:49
• Pretty Nancy of Yarmouth 03:06
• Close the Coalhouse Door 02:38
• All for Me Grog 02:24
• Santa Fe Trail 04:51
• Jock Stewart 02:07
• The Death of Queen Jane 03:27
• Good Old Way 02:52
• Doffing Mistress 01:30
• Blackleg Miner 01:55
• Goodnight Irene 02:31
• Mad Family 01:35
• Dig My Grave 01:05
• Tam Lin 09:59

A Folk Song A Day 5: November 2010

• Spectre Review 05:10
• His Name Is Andrew 05:05
• London Town 02:49
• Spencer the Rover 03:15
• Cob a Coalin 01:59
• South Australia 01:53
• Love At the Five and Dime 04:46
• Boston Harbour 02:05
• Mary Ann 02:48
• A Chat With Your Mother 04:03
• If You Want to See the General 03:09
• Bruton Town 03:36
• Rose of Tralee 03:04
• I'll Go With Him Wherever He Goes 02:41
• See See the Cape's In View 02:39
• Hard Times 02:52
• Unfortunate Lass 03:41
• Cholera Camp 06:09
• I Once Was a Fisherman 02:37
• My Johnny Was a Shoemaker 01:29
• Jacob's Well 03:38
• Poor Fellows 05:04
• Warlike Lads of Russia 03:31
• Fire Marengo 02:44
• Grey Goose and Gander 03:37
• The Hand Weaver and the Factory Maid 02:43
• Sweep Chimney Sweep 02:08
• Farewell to Old Bedford 01:58
• Cold Blows the Wind 03:26
• Brown Girl 03:15

A Folk Song A Day 6: December 2010

• Babes In The Wood 02:46
• Hark Hark 01:53
• Snow Falls 01:52
• While Shepherds Watched (Pentonville) 03:06
• While Shepherds Watched (Sweet Chiming Bells) 02:50
• Come All You Weary Travellers 02:43
• Mistletoe Bough 04:08
• Cells 04:14
• Boar's Head Carol 01:45
• A Roving On A Winter's Night 03:07
• Spout Cottage 02:10
• Poor Little Jesus 02:36
• All Hail The Power Of Jesus' Name (Diadem) 02:53
• The Holly & The Ivy 02:23
• Remember O Thou Man 03:30
• Jingle Bells 03:53
• Mount Moriah 02:14
• We Wish You A Merry Christmas 01:51
• Awake Arise Good Christians 02:37
• While Shepherds Watched (Lyngham) 02:38
• Stannington 02:12
• Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer 02:09
• The First Noel 02:58
• Shepherds Arise 03:31
• On Christmas Day 01:38
• The King 01:31
• O Little Town Of Bethlehem 02:21
• Little Pot Stove 04:47
• I'd Like To Tell To You 01:45
• Rocking Me Babies 02:16
• Cornish Wassail Song 05:05

A Folk Song A Day 7: January 2011

• January Man 03:19
• Daddy Fox 02:54
• Old Brown's Daughter 03:36
• Peggy Bann 03:44
• Apple Tree Wassail Song 02:39
• Pilgrim On the Pennine Way 03:49
• Captain Ward 03:21
• Otago 03:39
• Peggy Gordon 02:59
• In the Month of January 02:58
• The Snow It Melts the Soonest 02:25
• Off to Epsom Races 01:45
• Ruins By the Shore 02:54
• Days Gone By 03:00
• Smugglers Song 03:29
• Lowlands 03:17
• Five Hundred Miles 02:20
• Maria's Gone 02:45
• Ballina Whalers 05:03
• The Last Leviathan 02:48
• The Cuckoo 02:47
• John Ball 03:46
• I Drew My Ship 02:24
• Two Magicians 04:07
• Some Tyrant Has Stolen My True Love Away 02:15
• Bungay Roger 02:15
• My Son John 01:28
• Banks of the Nile 03:05
• Anachie Gordon 06:57
• I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen 03:23
• Dark As a Dungeon 02:43

A Folk Song A Day 8: February 2011

• Sheffield Apprentice 04:47
• Won't You Go My Way 01:19
• Clyde Water 04:41
• German Musicianer 03:18
• Cold Blow and the Rainy Night 02:45
• When First I Came to Caledonia 03:35
• King Henry Was King James' Son 01:24
• Queenie 01:35
• Simon John 04:30
• Rolling Down to Rio 01:53
• Hanging Johnny 01:14
• Butter and Cheese and All 03:16
• Don't Go Out Tonight Dear Father 03:36
• Cupid's Garden 03:23
• Young Banker 02:31
• Donkey Riding 01:32
• I Sowed the Seeds of Love 03:14
• Over the Hills and Far Away 03:03
• Bird In the Bush 02:55
• Shoals of Herring 02:59
• Grey Funnel Line 03:06
• A Pilgrims Way 04:21
• Widow's Curse 05:08
• Maid and the Palmer 03:18
• Sir Patrick Spens 04:39
• Fiddlers Green 04:52
• Captain Wedderburn 05:26
• Oor Hamlet 04:21

A Folk Song A Day 9: March 2011

• Lakes of Pontchartrain 03:33
• Four Angels 03:32
• Willie's Lady 05:46
• Worcester City 02:58
• Swansea Barracks 04:36
• Wife of the Soldier 01:36
• Bold Fisherman 04:11
• Sweet Mossom 02:28
• Corduroy 03:03
• Weaver's Daughter 02:22
• Plains of Mexico 02:05
• Farewell Sweet Lovely Nancy 01:40
• Take This Hammer 03:18
• Dalesman's Litany 03:50
• Billy Don't You Weep for Me 03:42
• Springfield Mountain 02:03
• The Green Fields of America 04:09
• Jack Orion 04:08
• Turkey Rhubarb 00:34
• Horn Fair 01:55
• Lovely On the Water 03:03
• Hail a Brighter Day 05:18
• Adam and Eve 00:39
• Scarborough Fair 02:35
• Turtle Dove 02:08
• Tommy 04:01
• Ye Mariners All 01:36
• Whiskey Is the Life of Man 03:33
• Maid On the Shore 04:15
• Juniper, Gentle and Rosemary 04:22
• Lemady 02:31

A Folk Song A Day 10: April 2011

• On One April Morning 02:56
• Rose In April 03:58
• There Once Was a Lover and He Loved a Lass 01:43
• Brave Wolfe 04:00
• The Banks of the Tees 02:29
• Gaol Song 03:04
• The Roman Centurion's Song 04:01
• Amsterdam 04:17
• Palaces of Gold 03:47
• Lord Bateman 03:08
• Payday 02:28
• John Blunt 01:57
• John Barleycorn 03:35
• Gentleman Soldier 02:54
• Copshawholme Fair 04:27
• Seven Yellow Gypsies 05:23
• A Week Before Easter 03:19
• Sister Josephine 03:51
• Bellman 03:44
• Maid In Bedlam 03:55
• Dust to Dust 03:46
• Recruited Collier 02:40
• I Am a Youth That's Inclined to Ramble 02:57
• Pace Egging 04:49
• Sheepshearing 02:04
• I Know My Love By His Way of Talking 02:39
• Geordie 03:34
• New York Mining Disaster 03:19
• Auld Triangle 04:17
• Reynardine 04:12

A Folk Song A Day 11: May 2011

• Hail, Hail the First of May 02:50
• Hal and Tow 02:45
• The Outlandish Knight 05:21
• The Verdant Braes of Skreen 03:00
• Bonny Bunch of Roses 04:44
• Broomfield Hill 04:04
• Death and the Lady 03:12
• Gathering Rushes 05:22
• Down the Moor 05:01
• As I Roved Out 03:41
• Searching for Lambs 03:56
• My Husband's Got No Courage In Him 01:54
• Sweet Nightingale 03:36
• The Gardener 03:07
• Oh What a Beautiful Morning 03:16
• Charming Molly 01:52
• P Stands for Paddy 03:31
• Gypsy Rover 04:23
• Lillibulero 03:17
• Big Rock Candy Mountain 03:08
• Roseville Fair 03:25
• House Carpenter 05:37
• Farewell to the Gold 03:48
• Little Sally Racket 02:02
• Rout of the Blues 02:11
• Banks of the Ohio 04:14
• Birds Upon the Trees 02:33
• Banks of Fordie 06:54
• Icarus 05:29
• Little Musgrave 10:15
• Claudy Banks 03:49

A Folk Song A Day 12: June 2011

• Just As The Tide Was Flowing 04:13
• Beggar Laddie 04:29
• Garden Hymn 02:29
• Streams Of Lovely Nancy 02:31
• Let Union Be In All Our Hearts 03:41
• After The Ball 00:43
• Innocent When You Dream 04:04
• Poverty Knock 04:04
• Abe Carman 03:33
• Lock Keeper 03:25
• Ghost Song 04:03
• Exile Song 01:07
• Wild Mountain Thyme 03:25
• Rag Fair 01:58
• Rose of Allendale 04:04
• Farmer's Boy 03:55
• Grand Conversation On Napoleon 04:44
• Plains Of Waterloo 03:29
• Roll Alabama 03:52
• Bold Archer 02:55
• Road Through The Woods 02:20
• Banks Of Sweet Primroses 03:05
• Fortune Turns The Wheel 04:12
• The Larks They Sang Melodious 04:16
• Farners Toast 03:58
• Young Roger Esquire 01:53
• One Night As I Lay 02:16
• Earl Richard 04:01
• White Cockade 03:15
• Rose In June 07:14

In popular culture

Jon Boden's A Folk Song A Day has inspired other spinoffs, most notably the Australian Folk Song A Day project featuring 367 folk renditions on a daily basis between 26 January 2011 and 26 January 2012 by John Thompson.^[8]

Other similar projects include Fifty-Two Folk Songs,^[9] Oli Steadman’s 365 Days Of Folk,^[10] and a A Liverpool Folk Song a Week.^[11]

See also

• Music podcast

Notes and References

1. Web site: Bellowhead: 'We're a party band with serious intellectual pretensions'. September 25, 2010. The Guardian. May 17, 2022. April 2, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190402080657/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/sep/26/bellowhead-party-band-folk-music. live.
2. Web site: StackPath. www.folkradio.co.uk. 31 May 2010 . 2011-08-19. 2011-10-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20111002060027/http://www.folkradio.co.uk/2010/05/jon-boden-a-folk-song-a-day/. live.
3. Web site: Jon Boden announces "A Folk Song A Day". The Line of Best Fit. 2022-05-17. 2021-03-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20210301080445/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/jon-boden-announces-a-folk-song-a-day-31424. live.
4. Web site: Jon Boden's A Folk Song a Day – review. June 27, 2011. The Guardian. May 17, 2022. April 2, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190402082226/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jun/27/jon-boden-review. live.
5. Web site: A Song A Day website - About section. https://web.archive.org/web/20110613045637/http://www.afolksongaday.com/about/. dead. June 13, 2011.
6. Web site: A Folk Song A Day on Apple Podcasts. Apple Podcasts. 23 June 2011 . 2022-05-17. 2022-05-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20220517175755/https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-folk-song-a-day/id377002664. live.
7. Web site: Alan Bearman Music . 2012-02-11 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120120123022/http://www.alanbearmanmusic.co.uk/artists/bodenRemnant.asp . 2012-01-20 .
8. Web site: An Australian Folk Song A Day. www.ozfolksongaday.com. 2022-05-17. 2022-05-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20220517175754/http://ozfolksongaday.blogspot.com/. live.
9. Web site: Fifty-Two Folk Songs. Fifty-Two Folk Songs. 2022-05-17. 2021-11-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20211126162331/https://52folksongs.com/. live.
10. Web site: 365 Days Of Folk. 365 Days Of Folk. 2024-01-14.
11. Web site: A Liverpool Folk Song a Week. aliverpoolfolksongaweek.blogspot.ca. 2022-05-17. 2016-02-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20160223145843/http://aliverpoolfolksongaweek.blogspot.ca/. live.