U-V - PD Songs

A note on the stuff in parentheses: c” = circa, “r” = recorded (which doesn't mean copyrighted or "first written"; that may have happened well before), "TA" = Traditional Anonymous. “<” = before, and “>” = after. For instance, a song about a train wreck that happened in 1909 might have a  “>” after the date because no one would have written about an event that had not yet occurred (duh). A song found in a book published in 1857 might have a “<”  as we know the song was known at least by that date. If you see a date after 1923 followed by "PD", it means the song was apparently known for a long while, but not recorded or put into a song books until the date cited. In most of these cases, the name of the writer was never recorded or is now lost. Or perhaps a name was given that was only a good guess and cannot be proven or dis-proven. An acute observer may notice a disproportionate number of 1927 dates. This is the year Carl Sandburg published his "American Songbag", a cornucopia of old American songs. A question mark (?) means I suspect it belongs in this list, but am less than sure. Whenever I found a choice of two dates, which was frequent, I  usually cite the older one. A few songs well-known by multiple names are entered under each name.  Many are known by multiple names, by first line or by repeated phrases. If you do not find what you want on the first try, think outside the box, as it may be here under a variant of the name you know.

​Scroll to your heart's content.

 

Uh Uh, No

Ukelele Lady (1925)
The Unbroken Token
Un Canadien Errant (1842)
Uncle Dan
Uncle Joe
Uncle Ned (1848)
Uncle Quit Work Too
Uncle Sam's Daughter
Unclouded Day (1890)
Unconstant Lover (1827
Underneath Hawaiian Skies (1921)
Under the Anhauser Busch (1903)
Under the bamboo tree (1902)



Under the Chicken Tree (1908)
Under the Double Eagle (1902)
Unfortunate Miss Bailey (1803)
Unfortunate Rake

Unnamed Blues (PD)
Unquiet Grave (Child #78, early 1800s)
The Unwilling Bride (Child #277)
Up & Down the Railroad Track (1914)
Up on Big Pidgeon
Up on the Housetop (1867)
Utah Carl (1905)
Utah Carroll (1909)

Vacant Chair (1862)

Valencia (1925)
The Valiant Soldier (1679)
Valparaiso "Round the Horn (1898)
Van Dieman's Land

Vandy, Vandy
Very Day I'm Gone
Vicar of Brae (<1813)
Vicksburg Blues (1930 PD)
Victory Rag
Villikins & His Dinah (<1853)
Viola Lee Blues (?)
Virginia Belle
Virgin Mary
Virgin Mary Had a Little baby (1953 PD)
Virgin Mary Had a One Son (1953 PD)
Viva La Compagnie (<1818)
​V'la L'Bon Vent