Category — Roger McGuinn

When the Costa Concordia capsized last month, people described the panic and chaos during a rather unruly evacuation as reminiscent of the pandemonium on board the Titanic as it sank nearly 100 years ago. I remembered hearing this song in the Harry Smith Anthology of American Music and decided it would be fitting for the Folk Den’s February release. There are many versions of this. I combined the two that I liked best, says Roger McGuinn in The Folk Den. (listen)

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen: "I recorded the vocals and acoustic guitar at the Lee’s “Farm Niente” over Thanksgiving 2011. When I got home I overdubbed the Rickenbacker 370/12/RM JETGLO which Bill Lee graciously gave me,” says Roger McGuinn in The Folk Den. (listen)

“This is a traditional Irish song that I first heard at the Chicago folk club The Gate of Horn sung by Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers,” says Roger McGuinn in The Folk Den.

The lab stone was a stone held in the cobbler’s lap, used for beating materials into shape." (listen)

“Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie” is said to be the most famous cowboy song. It was derived from a sea song called “The Sailor’s Grave” or “The Ocean Burial” which began with the line: “O bury me not in the deep deep sea,” says Roger McGuinn in The Folk Den.

A number of popular performers have recorded versions of “Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie” including Moe Bandy, Johnny Cash, Burl Ives, Tex Ritter and Roy Rogers. Some even turn the meaning around by saying “Bury Me Out On The Lone Prairie." (listen)

One of my favorite folk albums is “Thar She Blows” with A. L. Lloyd and Ewan MacColl on vocals, Peggy Seeger on banjo/guitar and John Cole on harmonica, says Roger McGuinn in The Folk Den. I recorded this song in Lloyd’s vocal style, adding mandolin, banjo and guitar. (listen)

A classic Gospel song, in the picking style I learned from Earl Scruggs, says Roger McGuinn in The Folk Den. (listen)

Liam Clancy sang this in concert. He’d introduce it: “Here’s a song you haven’t heard before but you’ll learn it in a few minutes and when you go home tonight, you’ll have a new song in your repertoire.” He’d get a good laugh on that!, says Roger McGuinn in The Folk Den. (listen)

"This is a traditional Irish song I learned from the Makem & Spain Brothers," says Roger McGuinn in The Folk Den. (listen)

"A sweet little folk song to celebrate Spring in the Northern Hemisphere!" says Roger McGuinn in The Folk Den. (listen)

"Polly Vaughn is an old Irish folk song about a hunter who mistakenly shoots his true love thinking her to be a swan," says Roger McGuinn in The Folk Den. (listen)