FBest Known Public Domain SongsF List of 114
IMPORTANT: This list is based on USA Copyright Law and is intended only as a help in researching public domain music. This list is NOT sufficient documentation that music is in the Public Domain. To prove PD status in the USA, you MUST find a published copy of the song with a copyright date of 1926 or earlier. Our PD Sheet Music Reprints are exact reprints of books and sheet music published in 1926 or earlier and include music, lyrics, and complete original copyright information. Some of these songs may not be PD in countries other than the USA.
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| Title | V=Verse C=Chorus N=Note P=Production w=Words m=Music |
1 - 3 $5 ea 4 up $4 ea | |
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| Songs are on this PD list if we have a pre-1927 PD sheet music publication in our library AND if anyone has asked about PD status of the song in the past 20 years. | |||
| Faded Coat of Blue Traditional |
McNaughton V - My brave lad sleeps in his faded coat of blue; In a lonely grave unknown lies the heart that beat so true. C - No more the bugle calls the weary one, Rest, noble spirit, in thy grave unknown. | PD Reprint | |
| Faded Love Letters Popular Song |
1923 - m. Luella Lockwood Moore (1864-1927), William E. Dulmage (1883-1953), w. Richard W. Pascoe (1888-1968) V - When all the world seems so merry and bright, I'm dreaming of days past recall, Wond'ring if someone can see me tonight, As the tears from my eyes gently fall. C - Faded old love letters, They mean the world to me, Each night I read them over, They are my rosary. | PD Reprint | |
| Fair Harvard Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Fair Young Mary Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Fairy Lullaby Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Fairy Moonlight Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Fairy's Love song Traditional |
Traditional Old Celtic Melody N - Celtic 'Tha Mi Sgith', a.k.a. 'Cutting Ferns' | PD Reprint | |
| Faith of Our Fathers Hymn |
w. Frederick W. Farber | PD Reprint | |
| Fallen Leaf Popular Song |
1922 - m. Frederic Knight Logan, w. Virginia K. Logan V - Dimly fade the stars at dawn, Softly glows the morning's ray, Thru the pines the West wind blows, Over mountains gray. C - Thru the forest Lone I'm roaming, My heart's calling, Fallen Leaf, With the dawning, I am coming To thy lodge, Fallen Leaf. | PD Reprint | |
| Fandango Traditional |
1774 | PD Reprint | |
| Fanny Blair Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Fantasie Impromptu Traditional |
1855 - Chopin | PD Reprint | |
| Far Above Cayuga's Waters Traditional |
1860 V - Far above Cayuga's water, With its waves of blue, Stands our noble Alma Mater, Glorious to view. C - Lift the chorus, speed it onward, Loud her praises tell; Hail to thee! our Alma Mater, Hall, all, hail, Cornell! N - Frequently used as tune for college and high school Alma Mater | PD Reprint | |
| Far Away, Far Away Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Fare Thee Well, Mollie Darling Popular Song |
1902 - m. Kerry Mills, w. Will D. Cobb | PD Reprint | |
| Fare Ye Well Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Farewell (La Partida) Traditional |
1907 | PD Reprint | |
| Farewell Blues Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Rappolo ~ Leon Rappolo V - Sadness just makes me sigh. I've come to say goodbye. Altho I go I've got those farewell blues. C - Those farewell blues make me years That parting kiss seems to burn. Farewell dearie Some day I will return.. | PD Reprint | |
| Farewell Frances Traditional |
1830 | PD Reprint | |
| Farewell My Overcoat College |
PD Reprint | ||
| Farewell My Own Sullivan Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Farewell through the Puddle Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Farewell to Happiness Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Farewell to the Forest Traditional |
1890 - Mendelssohn | PD Reprint | |
| Farm Yard Blues Traditional |
1917 - Chris Smith, Henry Troy | PD Reprint | |
| Farmer in the Dell Children |
1883 V - The farmer in the dell, The farmer in the dell, High on the derry oh, The farmer in the dell. | PD Reprint | |
| Farmer Is the Man Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Fas', Fas' World Popular Song |
PD Reprint | ||
| Fascinating Rhythm Popular Song |
1924 - w. Ira Gershwin m. George Gershwin. P - Lady Be Good V - Got a little rhythm. A rhythm, a rhythm That Pit-a-pats through my brain. So darn persistent, The day isn't distant When it'll drive me insane. C - Fascinating Rhythm. You've got me on the go! Fascinating Rhythm I'm all aquiver. What a mess you're making! The neighbors want to know why I'm always shaking Just like a flivver. | PD Reprint | |
| Fascination Waltz Popular Song |
1905 - m. F.D. Marchetti, w. Maurice de Feraudy V - Jet'ai rencontre simplement, Et tu n'as rien fair pour cher cher a me plaire N - a.k.a. Fascination and Fascination Valse | PD Reprint | |
| Fascinator Traditional |
James Scott | PD Reprint | |
| Father Dear Father Come Home with Me Now Traditional |
1864 - Henry Clay Work | PD Reprint | |
| Favorite Ragtime, Music Hall |
1904 - Scott Joplin | PD Reprint | |
| Feather Your Nest Popular Song |
1920 - w.m. James Kendis, James Brockman, Howard Johnson | PD Reprint | |
| Feather Your Next Popular Song |
PD Reprint | ||
| Felicity Rag Traditional |
1911 - Scott Joplin, Scott Hayden | PD Reprint | |
| Felix Rag Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Female Sailor Traditional |
1706 | PD Reprint | |
| Fest March Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Fete Champetre Traditional |
1777 | PD Reprint | |
| Fiddle and I Children |
A. Goodeve V - Ah! It was gay, night and day, fair and cloudy weather, fiddle and I | PD Reprint | |
| Fiddle Dee Dee Traditional |
1765 | PD Reprint | |
| Fiddle Faddle Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Fidgety Feet Popular Song |
1926 - w. Ira Gershwin, m. George Gershwin | PD Reprint | |
| Fido Is A Hot Dog Now Popular Song |
1914 - m. Raymond Walker, w. Charles McCarron, Thomas J. Gray | PD Reprint | |
| Field of Monterey Traditional |
Sullivan | PD Reprint | |
| Fields in Spring Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Fifteen Miles on the Erie Canal | See Low Bridge Everybody Down | ||
| Fig Leaf Rag Ragtime, Music Hall |
1908 - Scott Joplin | PD Reprint | |
| Fighting On Spiritual |
V - Fightin on, Hallelujah! We are almost down to the shore . . . Hallelujah to the Lamb, Jesus died for eb'ry man. C - We are almost down to the shore. He died for you, He died for me, He died to save de whole world free. | PD Reprint | |
| Fine Companion Traditional |
1650 | PD Reprint | |
| Fine Flowers in the Valley Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Finlandia Popular Song |
PD Reprint | ||
| First Call Traditional |
Bugle Call | PD Reprint | |
| First Nowell Christmas, Holiday |
1833 - English Carol V - The first nowell, the angels did sing, was to certain poor shepherds in fields where they lay. C - Noel, noel, noel, noel, born is the King of Israel. N - a.k.a. The First Noel | PD Reprint | |
| First of April Traditional |
1773 | PD Reprint | |
| Fisher's Hornpipe Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue Popular Song |
1925 - w. Lewis & Young, m. Ray Henderson V - I just saw a maniac, maniac, maniac, Wild, and tearing his hair C - Five foot two, eyes of blue, But oh! what those five foot could do, Has anybody seen my girl? | PD Reprint | |
| Five Little Brown Jugs Popular Song |
PD Reprint | ||
| Fizz Water Traditional |
Eubie Blake | PD Reprint | |
| Flanagan Traditional |
1892 - C. Murphy, W. Letters | PD Reprint | |
| Fledermaus Waltz Traditional |
Strauss | PD Reprint | |
| Flee as a Bird Traditional |
Dana | PD Reprint | |
| Flight of the Bumble Bee Traditional |
1900 - Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov P - Tale of Tsar Saltan (Opera and Suite) Act III N - The Tale of Tsar Saltan (Opera and Suite) was published ca1904 by Bessel, St. Petersburg, without a date. PD Info has been unable to locate a 1922 or earlier dated publication. The well known arrangement by Rachmaninoff ca1929 is NOT PD in the USA. | PD Reprint | |
| Fling Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Float Away Traditional |
w.m. German Folksong V - Float away, float away, O'er land and o'er sea, Dark clouds stay not hither, | PD Reprint | |
| Floating Along Popular Song |
1906 - m. Edward Buffington, w. C.C. Pillsbury N - Published Separately as Song and Two Step | PD Reprint | |
| Flora Traditional |
1735 | PD Reprint | |
| Flora MacDonald's Lament Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Floreine Waltz Popular Song |
PD Reprint | ||
| Flow Gently Sweet Afton Traditional |
1838 - Spilman | PD Reprint | |
| Flowers in the Valley Folk Song |
Traditional | PD Reprint | |
| Flowers of the Vale Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Flowers that Bloom in the Spring Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Flying Arrow Popular Song |
1906 - m. Abe Holzmann N - March and Two Step | PD Reprint | |
| Flying Dutchman Overture Traditional |
1844 - Wagner | PD Reprint | |
| Flying Trapeze Popular Song |
1868 - m. Alfred Lee, w. George Leybourne V - Once I was happy, but now I'm forlorn. Like an old coat that is tatter'd and torn. C - He'd float through the air with the greatest of ease. A daring young man on the flying Trapeze. | PD Reprint | |
| Foggy, Foggy Dew Traditional |
1700 V - One night as I lay in my bed, As I lay fast asleep My pretty Love seemed to come to my head And bitterly she did weep. C - Dries off like the foggy dew, dew, dew, More swift than the foggy dew. | PD Reprint | |
| Fol-The-Rol-Lol Popular Song |
1902 - w.m. Fred W. Leigh, Fred Murray V - I just learnt a comical ditty, From some of my friends in the City; The verses are short And I think that you ought To admit that the chorus is pretty. C - With a fol-the-rol-lol, fol-the-rol-lol ! Fol-the-rol-lol-the-rol-lad-dy. Fol-the-rol-lol, fol-the-rol-lol ! Fol-the-rol-lol-the-rol-lad-dy. | PD Reprint | |
| Follow The Swallow Popular Song |
1924 - w. Billy Rose, Mort Dixon, m. Ray Henderson | PD Reprint | |
| Fond is the Memory Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Foot Traveller Traditional |
Luse | PD Reprint | |
| Foot-Warmer Traditional |
1914 - Harry Puck | PD Reprint | |
| Footfalls on de carpet Traditional |
1864 | PD Reprint | |
| For He's a Jolly Good Fellow Traditional |
1783 | PD Reprint | |
| For Me and My Gal Popular Song |
1917 - m. George Meyer, w. Edgar Leslie, E. Ray Goetz | PD Reprint | |
| For My Sweetheart Popular Song |
1926 - w. Gus Kahn, m. Walter Donaldson | PD Reprint | |
| For Sev'n Long Years College |
PD Reprint | ||
| For You ~ Smith Traditional |
Smith V - They say the years have swallow's wings, But mine have leaden feet, Since last we stood and said 'good-bye' That eve in Junetide sweet. C - For you, for you my darling, I spoke those word untrue. Left you, tho' I loved you, And broke my heart for you! | PD Reprint | |
| For You A Rose Popular Song |
1917 - m. Gus Edwards, w. Will D. Cobb | PD Reprint | |
| Forever Is A Long, Long Time Popular Song |
1916 - m. Albert Von Tilzer, w. Darl MacBoyle | PD Reprint | |
| Forgotten Traditional |
1894 | PD Reprint | |
| Forth to the Battle Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Fortune Teller Traditional |
1898 | PD Reprint | |
| Forty-Five Minutes from Broadway Popular Song |
1905 - w.m. George M. Cohan V - The West, so they say, is the home of the jay, And Missouri's the state that can grind them. This may all be, but just take it from me, You don't have to go out West to find them. C - Only forty-five minutes from Broadway, think of the changes it brings. For the short time it takes, what diff'rence it makes,In the ways of the people and things. | PD Reprint | |
| Forty-Nine Bottles College |
w. 14th century, m. 1900 or earlier V - Forty-nine bottles hanging on the wall, Forty-nine bottles hanging on the wall; Take one away from them all, Forty-eight bottles hanging on the wall. N - Tune: Ten Green Bottles. This tune differs from the tune most sung today. | PD Reprint | |
| Four Kings March Popular Song |
1901 - m. C.W. Dalbey, Ellis Brooks,A.F. Weldon,W.H. Scouton | PD Reprint | |
| Fourpence a Day Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Frankie and Johnny Traditional |
1869 V - Frankie and Johnny were sweethearts. They had a quarrel one day.Johnny he vowed that he would leave her, Said he was goin' away. C - Oh, I'm a goin' away and I'm a goin' to stay. I'm never comin' home. You're goin' to miss me hon', in days to come, When the winter winds begin to blow. N - This is an old traditional story and song. There are many variations of both lyrics and music. Versions published after 1922 are NOT in the public domain. | PD Reprint | |
| Free America Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Free at Last Spiritual |
V - Way down yonder in the graveyard walk, I thank God I'm free at last, Me an my Jesus goin' to meet and talk C - Free at last, free at last; I thank God I'm free at last. Free at last, free at last; I thank God I'm free at last. | PD Reprint | |
| Free Lance Patriotic |
1906 - m. John Philip Sousa | PD Reprint | |
| Freedom's Home Traditional |
Ogden | PD Reprint | |
| Frere Jacque Children |
1811 V - Frere Jacques, Frere Jacques, Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous? Sonnez les matines! Sonnez les matines! Din, dan, don. Din, dan, don. N - Also See: Are You Sleeping? | PD Reprint | |
| Frisco Frazzle Traditional |
1912 - Nat Johnson | PD Reprint | |
| Frog He Would A Wooing Go Children |
V - A Frog He Would A Wooing Go, m-m, m-m, Whether his mother would let him or no, m-m, m-m. N - See Also Frog Went A-Courting | PD Reprint | |
| Frog Went A-Courting Traditional |
1580
V - Frog went a courting and he did ride, Rinktum body minchy cambo, Sword and buckler by his side, Rinktum body minchy cambo
C - Kimaneero down to Cairo, Kimaneero Cairo, Straddle addle ladda bobbo, Ladda bobbolinktum, Rinktum body minchy cambo,
N - Frog courts Mouse, 15 verses or more. See also Frog He Would A Wooing Go |
PD Reprint | |
| From Aberdeen Traditional |
1698 | PD Reprint | |
| From the Land of the Sky Blue Water Popular Song |
1909 - m. Charles W. Cadman, w. Nellie R. Eberhart | PD Reprint | |
| Funeral March Traditional |
1840 - Chopin | PD Reprint | |
| Funeral March of a Marionette Classical |
1872 - Charles Gounod N - Alfred Hitchcock Theme | PD Reprint | |
| Funiculi Funicula Traditional |
1880 V - Some think the world is made for fun and frolick, And so do I! And so do I! Some think it well to be all melancholic, To pine and sigh . . ., C - Harken! Harken! Music sounds afar! . . . Tra-la-la-la, Tra-la-la-la, Tra-la-la-la, Tra-la-la-la, Joy is ev'rywhere, Tra-la-la-la! N - a.k.a. A Merry Life | PD Reprint | |
| Funny Folks Traditional |
W. C. Powell | PD Reprint | |
| Fur Elise Traditional |
1810 - Beethoven | PD Reprint | |
