GBest Known Public Domain SongsG List of 73
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. | |||
| Gaily the Troubadour Traditional |
Bayley V - Gaily the Troubadour touch'd his guitar, When he was hastening home from the war; Singing 'From Palestine, hither I come, Lady Love, welcome me home.' | PD Reprint | |
| Gambling Man Popular Song |
1902 - m. Jean Schwartz, w. William Jerome V - Bill Williams was a gambling man one of the reckless kind, A gamer sport in all the world I'm sure you couldn't find. C - One day its milk and honey, Next day hustling round for money, Ev'ry gamblin' man he knows Easy comes and easy goes. | PD Reprint | |
| Games Of Childhood Days Popular Song |
1908 - w.m. Will J. Harris, Harry I. Robinson | PD Reprint | |
| Garden Of Roses Popular Song |
1909 - m. Johann C. Schmid, w. J.E. Dempsey | PD Reprint | |
| Garland Of Old Fashioned Roses Popular Song |
1912 - m. E. Clinton Keithley, w. C.H. Musgrove | PD Reprint | |
| Garry Owen Traditional |
Traditional Irish | PD Reprint | |
| Gaudeamus Igatur Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Gaudeamus Igitur College |
PD Reprint | ||
| Gee, But I Hate To Go Home Alone Popular Song |
1922 - w.m. Joe Goodman, James F. Hanley | PD Reprint | |
| Gee, But It's Great to Meet a Friend from Your Old Home Towm Popular Song |
1910 - m. James McGavisk, w. William Tracey | PD Reprint | |
| General Pershing Popular Song |
m. Carl D. Vandersloot | PD Reprint | |
| Gentle Annie Traditional |
1856 - Stephen Collins Foster V - Thou wilt come no more, Gentle Annie. Like a flower thy spirit did depart; Thou art gone, alas! like the many That have bloomed in the summer of my heart. C - Shall we never more behold thee; never hear thy winning voice again. When the Springtime comes, gentle Annie, When the wild flowers are scattered o'er the plain. | PD Reprint | |
| Gentle Lena Clare Traditional |
1862 - Stephen Collins Foster | PD Reprint | |
| Georgia Popular Song |
1922 - m. Walter Donaldson, w. Howard Johnson N - NOT Georgia On My Mind, 1930, Hoagy Carmichael | PD Reprint | |
| Georgie Porgie Children |
1765 V - Georgie Porgie, pudding and pie, Kiss'd the girls and made them cry; When the girls cam out to play, Georgie Porgie ran away. | PD Reprint | |
| German Cradle Song Children |
V - Sleep, baby sleep. Thy Father tends the sheep; Thy mother shakes the dreamland tree, A little dream falls down for thee, | PD Reprint | |
| Gesu Bambino Christmas, Holiday |
1917 - w.m. Pietro A. Yon, w. translated Frederick H. Martens V - When blossoms flowered 'mid the snows Upon a winter night, Was born the Child, the Christmas Rose, The King of Love and Light. C - O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. N - Italian lyrics: 'Nell'umile capanna nel freddo e poverta e nato il Santo pargolo che il mondo adorere' | PD Reprint | |
| Ghost Of The Violin Popular Song |
1912 - m. Ted Snyder, w. Bert Kalmar | PD Reprint | |
| Giannina Mia Popular Song |
1912 - m. Rudolf Friml, w. Otto Harbach | PD Reprint | |
| Gimme A Little Kiss, Will Ya, Huh? Popular Song |
1926 - w.m. Roy Turk , Jack Smith, Maceo Pinkard | PD Reprint | |
| Girl Friend Popular Song |
1926 - w. Lorenz Hart, m. Richard Rodgers P - The Girl Friend | PD Reprint | |
| Girl I Left Behind (Me) Traditional |
1758-1770 - Traditional Irish V - The dames of France are fond and free, And Flemish lips are willing, And soft the maids of Italy, And Spanish eyes are thrilling C - To the girl I left behind me. N - First Printing 1808, a.k.a. Brighton Camp | PD Reprint | |
| Girl of Mine Popular Song |
w.m. Harold Freeman V - I know a garden filled with roses rare, Roses fair grown ev'ry where. C - Rose of my moonlight dreams, dear, I'm waiting just for you: To me this whole world seems, dear, A paradise for two. | PD Reprint | |
| Girl on the Magazine Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Girls and Boys Come Out to Play Children |
V - Girls and boys come out to plan, The moon doth shine as bright as day | PD Reprint | |
| Git Along Little Dogies Traditional |
1893 N - a.k.a. Whooopee Ti Yi Yo | PD Reprint | |
| Give My Regards to Broadway Popular Song |
1904 - w.m. George M. Cohan | PD Reprint | |
| Gladiator Patriotic |
1886 - m. John Philip Sousa | PD Reprint | |
| Gladiolus Rag Traditional |
1907 - Scott Joplin | PD Reprint | |
| Glasgoe Highlanders Traditional |
Traditional Scot | PD Reprint | |
| Glen Rose March and Two Step Popular Song |
PD Reprint | ||
| Glory and Honor Spiritual |
V - Oh, my young Christians, I got lots for to tell yhou all . . . judge ye not, for you shall be judged . . . C - Live humble, humble, humble yourselves, de bell done ring. | PD Reprint | |
| Glory, Glory, Hallelujah | See Battle Hymn of the Republic | ||
| Glow-Worm Popular Song |
1907 - m. Paul Lincke, w. Lilla Cayley Robinson V - When the night falls silently, the night falls silently on forests dreaming, Lovers wander forth to see, they wander forth to see the bright stars gleaming; C - Shine, little glow-worm glimmer, shine little glow-worm glimmer! Lead us, lest too far we wander, Love's sweet voice is calling yonder! | PD Reprint | |
| Go 'Long Mule Popular Song |
1924 - w.m. Henry Creamer, Robert King N - Novelty Song - 22 Verses | PD Reprint | |
| Go Down Moses Spiritual |
V - When Israel was in Egypt's land, Let my people go. Oppressed so hard they could not stand, Let me people go. C - Go down Moses, 'Way down in Eqypt land, Tell old Pharoah, Let my people go. N - a.k.a. Let My People Go | PD Reprint | |
| Go Tell it on the Mountain Spiritual |
ca. 1865 - Spiritual V - When I was a seeker I sought both night an' day, I ask' de Lord to help me, An' He show' me de way. C - Go tell it on de mountain, Over de hills an' everywhere; Go tell it on de mountain, Dat Jesus Christ is born. | PD Reprint | |
| Go Way Back and Sit Down Traditional |
1901 | PD Reprint | |
| God Be With You (Til We Meet Again) Traditional |
m. W.G. Tomer, w. J.E. Rankin V - Goe be with you til we meet again, By his counsels guide, uphold you C - Till we meet, till we meet, Till we meet at Jesus' feet. Till we meet, till we meet, God be with you till we meet again. | PD Reprint | |
| God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen Christmas, Holiday |
ca. 1760 - w.m. English Traditional V - God rest you merry, Gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, For Jesus Christ our Savior Was born upon this Day. To save poor souls from Satan's power, Which long time had gone astray. Which brings tidings of comfort and joy. | PD Reprint | |
| God Save the King Traditional |
L&S | PD Reprint | |
| Goin' Home (From Largo of New World Symphony) Traditional |
1893 - m. Anton Dvorak (1841-1904), w. Williams Arms Fisher V - Goin' home, goin' home, I'm a goin' home; Quiet like, some still day, I'm just goin' home. | PD Reprint | |
| Going to Shout All Over God's Heaven Spiritual |
V - I've got a robe, you've got a robe. All of God's children got a robe; When I get to Heaven, goin' to put on my robe, Goin' to shout all over God's Heav'n.
C - Heav'n. Heav'n. Everybody talking 'bout heav'n ain't going there, Heav'n, Heav'n, Goin' to shout all over God's Heav'n.
N - a.k.a. I've Got A robe, All God's Children Got Wings Use any word for robe for as many verses as you like. (I've got a robe / crown / shoes / wings / crown) |
PD Reprint | |
| Going to Study War No More Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Gold and Silver Waltz Traditional |
1904 - Lehar | PD Reprint | |
| Golden Days Popular Song |
1924 - m. Sigmund Romberg. P - The Student Prince V - Down where the necktar flows swiftly alone Nestles a town that is famous in song, Laughing lads roam thro' its streets so quaint, No one's a sinner much less a saint. C - Golden days in the sunshine of our happy youth. Golden days full of innocence and full of truth! In our hearts we remember them all else above. Golden days of youth and love! | PD Reprint | |
| Golden Slippers | See Oh Dem Golden Slippers | ||
| Goober Peas Traditional |
1864 V - Sitting by the roadside on a summer day, Chatting with my messmates passing time away, Lying in the shadow underneath the trees C - Peas! Peas! Peas! Peas! Eating goober peas! Goodness how delicious, eating goober peas! | PD Reprint | |
| Good Bye Boys Popular Song |
1913 - m. Harry Von Tilzer, w. Andrew Sterling, William Jerome V - Good bye old pals I'm going far away, 'Tis duty calls me and I must obey. C - Good bye boys, I'm going to be married tomorrow, Good bye boys, I'm going from sunshine to sorrow. | PD Reprint | |
| Good Bye Broadway, Hello France Popular Song |
1917 - m. Billy Baskette, w. C. Francis Reisner, Billy Davis | PD Reprint | |
| Good Bye Dolly Gray Popular Song |
1900 - m. Paul Barnes, w. Will D. Cobb | PD Reprint | |
| Good Bye Eliza Jane Popular Song |
1903 - m. Harry Von Tilzer, w. Andrew Sterling V - Look a'here Liza, listen to me You ain't the gal you promised to be Didn't you say you always would be true, oo, oo, oo, oo C - Good-bye Eliza Jane, I'm gwine a' for to leave you. Well, you know when I go, that I was the fellow with the dough, dough, dough | PD Reprint | |
| Good Man Is Hard to Find Popular Song |
1918 - w.m. Eddie Green V - My heart's sad and I am all forlorn, My man's treating me mean, I regret the day that I was born, And that man of mine I've ever seen. C - A good man is hard to find, You always get the other kind. Just when you think that he is your pal, You look for him and find him fooling 'round some other gal. | PD Reprint | |
| Good Morning To All Children |
1896 - m. Mildred and Patty Hill, w. Patty Hill V - Good morning to you, Good morning to you, Good morning dear children, Good morning to all. N - Tune and Good Morning to All lyrics are in the public domain. Happy Birthday lyrics were ruled to be in the public domain on 9/22/2015 by the Unites States District Court for the Central District of California. | PD Reprint | |
| Good Morning, Mister Zip-Zip-Zip Popular Song |
1918 - w.m. Robert Lloyd V - You come from ev'ry quarter, From North, South, East and West. To clear the way to freedom For the land we love the best. C - Good morning, Mister Zip-Zip-=Zip. With you hair cut just as short as mine. Good morning, Mister Zip-Zip-Zip, You're surely looking fine.. | PD Reprint | |
| Good News, De Chariot's Comin' Spiritual |
V - Gwine to get up in de chariot, Carry me home . . . An ' I don' want her leave a me behind. C - Good news, de chariot's coming', I don' want her leave a me behind. | PD Reprint | |
| Good Night Ladies College |
V - Good night ladies, Good night ladies, good night ladies, We're going to leave you now. C - Merrily we roll along, roll along, roll along. Merrily we roll along, O'er the deep blue sea. | PD Reprint | |
| Goodbye Liza Jane Traditional |
1871 | PD Reprint | |
| Goodbye, Girls, I'm Through Popular Song |
1914 - m. Ivan Caryll, w. John Golden | PD Reprint | |
| Goodbye, My Lady Love Popular Song |
1904 - w.m. Joe Howard V - So you're going away Because your heart has gone astray, And you promised me That you would always faithful be. C - Good bye, my lady love. Farewell, my turtle dove, You are the idol and darling of my heart. | PD Reprint | |
| Goodnight Ladies Traditional |
1853 V - Good night ladies! Good night ladies! Good night ladies, We're going to leave you now. C - Merrily we roll along, roll along, roll along, Merrily we roll along, O'er the deep blue sea. | PD Reprint | |
| Gospel Train Spiritual |
V - De gospel train am a comin; I hear it jus' at han'; I hear de carwheels rumblin', An rollin' throo' de lan'; C - Git on bo'd lit'l children, Git on bo'd lit'l children, Dere's room for many a mo'. N - a.k.a. Get On Board Little Children | PD Reprint | |
| Grand March--Aida Traditional |
Verdi | PD Reprint | |
| Grandfather's Clock Children |
1876 - Henry Clay Work V - My grandfather's clock was too large for the shelf, So it stood ninety years on the floor; C - Ninety years, without slumbering, (tick tock tick tock, His life seconds numbering | PD Reprint | |
| Grandpa's Spells Popular Song |
1923 - m. Ferdinand 'Jelly Roll' Morton (1891-1941) | PD Reprint | |
| Great Camp-meetin' in de Promised Land Spiritual |
V - Oh walk togedder, children, Don't yer get weary, . . . . Dere's a great camp meetin' in de Promised Land. C - Gwine to mourn an' nebber tire . . . Dere's a great camp meetin' in de Promised Land. | PD Reprint | |
| Great Day Spiritual |
V - Chariot rode on the mountain-top, God's going to build up Zion's walls. My God spoke and the chariot did stop . . . C - Great day, Great day, the righteous marching; Great day! God's going to build up Zion's walls. | PD Reprint | |
| Great Rock Island Line Popular Song |
1882 - w.m. J.A. Roff N - Early version of The Wabash Cannonball. Very similar chorus, but not the same tune as best known today. | PD Reprint | |
| Green Sleeves Folk Song |
1580 - m. Sixteenth Century Melody V - Alas! my love you do me wrong, To cast me off discourteously. And I have loved you so long Delighting in your company C - Green Sleeves was all my joy, Green Sleeves was my delight, Green Sleeves was my heart of gold, And who but my Lady Green Sleeves | PD Reprint | |
| Gulf Coast Blues Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Clarence Williams V - I've been blue all day. My man's gone away. He left his mamma cold. For another gal I'm told. C - Man that I love he has left me in this town. The man I love has gone, left me in this town. And if it keeps on snowing I will be Gulf Coast bound. | PD Reprint | |
| Gwine to Run All Night | See Camptown Races | ||
| Gwine Up (Going Up) Spiritual |
V - Oh, saints an' sinners will a you go. See de hebbenly land, I'm a gwine up to heaven for to see my robe, See de hebbenly land. C - Oh, yes, I'm gwine up, gwine up, gwine up, gwine up all the way Lord, Going up to see the heavenly land. | PD Reprint | |
| Gypsy Love Song Traditional |
1898 - "Slumber On" | PD Reprint | |
