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Lesser-KnownOld-Time Songs 60 SONGS
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Lesser-Known Old-Time Songs

Deep cuts from the old-time tradition

60 songs

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The old-time tradition is much deeper than the obvious canon. Beyond “Cluck Old Hen” and “Old Joe Clark,” the catalog has dozens of old ballads, fiddle tunes carried over from the British Isles, and pre-bluegrass material that fed into bluegrass and country. The Carter Family, Roscoe Holcomb, Doc Boggs, Hobart Smith, and dozens of pre-bluegrass figures recorded material that traveled forward.

Each song’s page on Picker’s Guide has chord charts, lyrics, recordings, and song history.

  1. 1. Across the Rocky Mountains Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby (2007) · by Traditional
  2. 2. All About You Doc Watson and David Grisman (1997) · by Cliff Friend
  3. 3. Banjo Picking Girl Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard (1976) · by Lily May Ledford
  4. 4. Beautiful Brown Eyes Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys (1978) · by Alton Delmore, Arthur Smith
  5. 5. Ben Dewberry’s Final Run Jerry Douglas (1987) · by Andrew Jenkins
  6. 6. Big Ball in Brooklyn Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys (1998) · by Traditional
  7. 7. Black Eyed Susie Baucom, Bibey, Graham and Haley (1998) · by Traditional
  8. 8. Bowling Green Della Mae (2011) · by Traditional
  9. 9. Brakeman’s Blues Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys (1951) · by Jimmie Rodgers
  10. 10. Brown’s Ferry Blues Tony Trischka (2024) · by Alton Delmore, Rabon Delmore
  11. 11. Casey Jones Tony Trischka (2024) · by Eddie Newton, T. Lawrence Seibert
  12. 12. Clementine Pete Seeger (1963) · by Henry S. Thompson, Percy Montrose
  13. 13. Columbus Stockade Blues Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys (1963) · by Jimmie Tarlton, Thomas Darby
  14. 14. Cotton Eyed Joe Don Reno, Red Smiley and the Tennessee Cutups (1957) · by Traditional
  15. 15. Cripple Creek The Stoneman Family (2002) · by Traditional
  16. 16. Darling Nellie Across the Sea Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard (1965) · by A.P. Carter
  17. 17. Deep River Blues Doc Watson (1964) · by Alton Delmore
  18. 18. Diamond Joe Sam Bush (2010) · by Butch Hawes
  19. 19. Dink’s Song Furnace Mountain (2007) · by Traditional
  20. 20. Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down Adam Steffey (2001) · by Unknown
  21. 21. Down Among the Budded Roses by Charlie Poole, Norman Woodlieff
  22. 22. Dreadful Wind and Rain Jerry Garcia and David Grisman (1996) · by Traditional
  23. 23. Dream of the Miner’s Child Doc Watson (1965) · by Andrew Jenkins
  24. 24. Drunken Driver Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder (1997) · by Paul Westmoreland
  25. 25. Duncan and Brady The Johnson Mountain Boys (1993) · by Traditional
  26. 26. East Virginia Blues Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys (1968) · by Traditional
  27. 27. Fair and Tender Ladies The Osborne Brothers (1960) · by Traditional
  28. 28. Fall on My Knees Foghorn String Band (2004) · by Traditional
  29. 29. Freight Train Jerry Garcia and David Grisman (1994) · by Elizabeth Cotten
  30. 30. Freight Train Boogie Doc Watson (1972) · by Alton Delmore, Rabon Delmore
  31. 31. Get Along Home Cindy Kathy Kallick Band (2010) · by Traditional
  32. 32. Give Me Back My 15 Cents Doc Watson and David Grisman (1997) · by Traditional
  33. 33. God Gave Noah the Rainbow Sign Ralph Stanley (2006) · by A.P. Carter
  34. 34. Groundhog The Dillards (1963) · by Traditional
  35. 35. Hear Jerusalem Moan Hot Rize (1985) · by Traditional
  36. 36. Hello Stranger Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard (1973) · by A.P. Carter
  37. 37. Hills of Mexico Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby (2007) · by Traditional
  38. 38. Hop High My Lulu Gal John Reischman and the Jaybirds (2005) · by Traditional
  39. 39. House Carpenter Tony Rice (1983) · by Traditional
  40. 40. I’ll Never Marry The Country Gentlemen (1973) · by A.P. Carter
  41. 41. Ida Red The Lonesome River Band (2017) · by Traditional
  42. 42. If I Lose Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder (1997) · by Charlie Poole, Norman Woodlieff
  43. 43. Jesse James The Country Gentlemen (1960) · by Billy Gashade
  44. 44. John Henry Blues Jim Mills (1998) · by Traditional
  45. 45. Knoxville Girl The Louvin Brothers (1956) · by Traditional
  46. 46. Little Birdie The Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys (1963) · by Traditional
  47. 47. Little Darling Pal of Mine The Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys (1963) · by A.P. Carter
  48. 48. Little Liza Jane We Banjo 3 (2016) · by Countess Ada DeLachau
  49. 49. Little Mathie Grove Ralph Stanley (2002) · by Traditional
  50. 50. Little Orphan Girl Doc Watson (1963) · by Traditional
  51. 51. Little Willie David Grisman (1988) · by Traditional
  52. 52. Log Cabin in the Lane Jim Eanes (1959) · by Will S. Hays
  53. 53. Lonesome Old Homesick Blues Lou Reid, Terry Baucom and Carolina (1993) · by “Mother” Maybelle Carter
  54. 54. Lorena The Del McCoury Band (2013) · by Henry D. L. Webster, Joseph Webster
  55. 55. Lost John Hot Rize (1985) · by Traditional
  56. 56. Love Oh Careless Love Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver (2015) · by Traditional
  57. 57. Midnight Special Emerson and Waldron (1970) · by Traditional
  58. 58. Mole in the Ground Doc and Merle Watson (1981) · by Traditional
  59. 59. Muskrat Doc Watson (1965) · by Traditional
  60. 60. No Depression in Heaven Peter Rowan (2004) · by James D. Vaughan

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