What are some good blues/folk songs about World War One?

July 312009

I’m doing a report on World War One and we need to upload a song relating to the war, I wanted to do an old blues or folk song. I was thinking along the styles of Leadbelly, Skip James, or Robert Johnson. Does anyone know of any old blues or folk songs about World War One?

Blues singers seem to have been relatively silent about World War I. I can’t find any blues or folk songs (from the time at least) addressing the war. There was a later song by Eric Bogle called "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" (written in 1970s but it was about WWI).

I’ve linked a list of songs from the war era which were about WW1.

6 Responses

  1. davidgardner32 Says:

    The only WWI song I know is "Over There"…and it’s not bluesy at all.
    References :

  2. Greg R (The R is for Reverent) Says:

    Blues singers seem to have been relatively silent about World War I. I can’t find any blues or folk songs (from the time at least) addressing the war. There was a later song by Eric Bogle called "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" (written in 1970s but it was about WWI).

    I’ve linked a list of songs from the war era which were about WW1.
    References :
    http://www.pdmusic.org/1900s.html#WWI

  3. conchobor2 Says:

    There are no recorded blues tunes from that era, and very little Jazz …

    But some of the popular songs are:

    Over There
    When Anthony Goes Over the Top
    Roses of Picardy
    Lily Marlene
    Its a Long Way to Tipperary

    References :

  4. autumn attack! Says:

    The general by dispatch.
    maybe not about WWI but about war yes.
    References :

  5. YOHAN BUNDY Says:

    http://nfo.net/usa/ww1.html

    is all U need
    References :

  6. padraig [classic®] Says:

    Like others have said, you’ll be hard pressed to find recorded Blues from that era. There were plenty of Blues songs written about WWII, however. I found a site with music clips of popular songs from the WWI era. Perhaps you’ll find something you can use there. Good luck.
    References :
    http://www.authentichistory.com/ww1/music/ww1music01.html

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