MBest Known Public Domain SongsM List of 80
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. | |||
| M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I Popular Song |
1916 - m. Harry Tierney, w. Bert Hanlon, Bennie Ryan | PD Reprint | |
| M-O-T-H-E-R Popular Song |
1915 - m. Theodore F. Morse, w. Howard Johnson V - I've been around the world, you bet, But I never went to school, Hard knocks are all I seem to get, Perhaps I've been a fool. C - M is for the million things she gave me, O means only that she's growing old, T is for the tears were shed to save me, H is for her heart of purest gold . . . | PD Reprint | |
| Ma! He's Making Eyes at Me Popular Song |
1921 - m. Con Conrad, w. Sidney Clare | PD Reprint | |
| MacNamara's Band Popular Song |
PD Reprint | ||
| Maldito Tango Dance |
ND - m. O, Perez Freire (1878 - 1930), w. Luis Roldan N - Published in Large Format size without copyright notice or date by Casa Amarilla, Santiago Chile. Entered the public domain in the USA upon publication. | PD Reprint | |
| Mama Goes Where Papa Goes Popular Song |
1923 - w. Jack Yellen m. Milton Ager | PD Reprint | |
| Mama Loves Papa Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Cliff Friend & Abel Baer | PD Reprint | |
| Mama's Gone, Goodbye Popular Song |
1924 - w.m. A. J. Piron & Peter Bocage | PD Reprint | |
| Man I Love Popular Song |
1924 - w. Ira Gershwin m. George Gershwin | PD Reprint | |
| Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo Traditional |
1892 | PD Reprint | |
| Mandalay (Burtnett,Lyman,Arnheim) Popular Song |
1924 - w.m. Earl Burtnett, Abe Lyman & Gus Arnheim | PD Reprint | |
| Mandy Make Up Your Mind Popular Song |
1924 - w. Grant Clarke & Roy Turk m. George W. Meyer P - Dixie To Broadway | PD Reprint | |
| Manhattan Popular Song |
1925 - w. Lorenz Hart, m. Richard Rodgers | PD Reprint | |
| Manhattan Beach March Patriotic |
1893 - m. John Philip Sousa | PD Reprint | |
| Maple Leaf Rag Ragtime, Music Hall |
1899 - Scott Joplin | PD Reprint | |
| March of the Toys Popular Song |
1903 - m. Victor Herbert, w. Glen MacDonough P - Babes in Toyland - 1903, Musical | PD Reprint | |
| March of the Wee Folk Instrumental, Keyboard |
1914 - m. Jessie L. Gaynor | PD Reprint | |
| Marche Militaire Traditional |
1826 - Schubert | PD Reprint | |
| Marching Through Georgia War Song |
1865 - Henry Clay Work V - Bring the good old bugle, boys we'll sing another song, Sing it will a spirit . . . C - While we're marching thro' Georgia, Hurrah Hurrah. We bring the Jubilee! | PD Reprint | |
| Margie Popular Song |
1920 - m. Con Conrad, J. Russel Robinson, w. Bennie Davis | PD Reprint | |
| Marriage of Figaro Traditional |
1786 - Mozart | PD Reprint | |
| Marseillaise Traditional |
1885 - de Lisle | PD Reprint | |
| Mary Had A Little Lamb Children |
1866 - Sarah Josepha Hale V - Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb, Mary had a little lamb, Its fleece was white as snow. | PD Reprint | |
| Mary Lou Popular Song |
1926 - w.m. Abe Lyman, George Waggner, J. Russel Robinson | PD Reprint | |
| Mary's A Grand Old Name Popular Song |
1905 - w.m. George M. Cohan | PD Reprint | |
| Maryland, My Maryland! Traditional |
1861 - Randall | PD Reprint | |
| Massa's in de Cold Ground Traditional |
1852 - w.m. Stephen Collins Foster (1826 - 1864) V - Round de meadows am a ringing De darkey's mournful song, While de mocking bird am singing, Happy as de day am long. C - Donw in de cornfield, Hear dat mournful sound; All de darkeys am a-weeping, Massa's in de cold, cold ground. | PD Reprint | |
| Maytime Popular Song |
1924 - w. Buddy DeSylva, m. Vincent Rose | PD Reprint | |
| Me Too Popular Song |
1926 - w.m. Harry Woods, Charles Tobias, Al Sherman | PD Reprint | |
| Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis Popular Song |
1904 - m. Kerry Mills, w. Andrew Sterling | PD Reprint | |
| Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland Popular Song |
1909 - m. Leo Friedman, w. Beth Slater Whitson | PD Reprint | |
| Memories Popular Song |
1915 - m. Egbert Van Alstyne, w. Gus Kahn | PD Reprint | |
| Memory Lane Popular Song |
1924 - w. B. G. De Sylva m. Larry Spier & Con Conrad | PD Reprint | |
| Memphis Blues Popular Song |
1912 - w.m. William C. Handy V - Folks I've just been down, down to Memphis town, That's where the people smile, smile on you all the while. Hospitality, they were good to me C - They got a fiddler there that always slickens his hair, an' folks he sure do pull some bow, And when the big Bassoon seconds to the Trombones croon, croon N - a.k.a. Mr. Crump | PD Reprint | |
| Memphis Blues - Song Popular Song |
1908 - m. W. C. Handy, w. George A. Norton P - Honey Boy Minstrels V - Folks, I've just been down, down to Memphis town, That's where the people smile, smile on you all the while C - They got a fidler there that always slickens his hair, an' folks he sure do pull some bow, And when the big Bassoon seconds to the Trombones croon | PD Reprint | |
| A Merry Life | See Funiculi Funicula | ||
| Merry Widow Waltz Instrumental, Keyboard |
1908 - m. Franz Lehar | PD Reprint | |
| The Merry Widow Waltz (with lyrics) | See I Love You So (Merry Widow Waltz) | ||
| Mexicali Rose Popular Song |
1923 - w. Helen Stone, m. Jack B. Tenney V - Mexicali Rose, I'm leaving. Don't feel blue. Mexicali Rose, stop grieving; I love you. C - Mexicali Rose, stop crying; I'll come back to you some sunny day. Ev'ry night you'll know that I'll be pining, Ev'ry hour a year while I'm away. | PD Reprint | |
| Michael Row the Boat Ashore Traditional |
1867 V - Michael row de boat ashore. Hallelujah! Michael boat a gospel boat, Hallelujah! N - Arrangements by folk singers of the 1950s are almost certainly under copyright protection. | PD Reprint | |
| Midnight Waltz Popular Song |
1925 - w. Gus Kahn, m. Walter Donaldson | PD Reprint | |
| Mighty Lak' a Rose Popular Song |
1901 - m. Ethelbert Nevin, w. Frank Stanton | PD Reprint | |
| Milenberg Joys Popular Song |
1925 - m. Ferdinand 'Jelly Roll' Morton (1890-1941) | PD Reprint | |
| Minuet in G ~ Beethoven Traditional |
1796 - Beethoven | PD Reprint | |
| Moment Musicale Traditional |
1823 - Schubert | PD Reprint | |
| Mon Paradis (Serenade d'Aujourd'hui) Popular Song |
1923 - m. Cuthbert Clarke | PD Reprint | |
| Montmartre Rose Popular Song |
1925 - w.m. Tommy Lyman | PD Reprint | |
| Moon Love Popular Song |
1923 - m. Jerome Kern, w. George Grossmith, Jr., P. G. Wodehouse P - The Beauty Prize | PD Reprint | |
| Moonlight and Roses Popular Song |
1925 - w.m. Edwin H. Lemare, Ben Black, Neil Moret V - When vesper bells are ringing, I hear sweet voices singing, As evening shadows fall. C - Moonlight and roses Bring wonderful mem'ries of you. My heart reposes In beautiful thoughts so true. | PD Reprint | |
| Moonlight Bay Popular Song |
1912 - m. Percy Weinrich, w. Edward Madden | PD Reprint | |
| Moonlight On The Ganges Popular Song |
1926 - w. Chester Wallace, m. Sherman Myers | PD Reprint | |
| Moonlight Sonata Classical |
1802 | PD Reprint | |
| More We Are Together Popular Song |
1926 - w.m. Irving King, Pseud: James Alexander Campbell-Tyrie (1903–1967) and Reginald John Connelly (1895–1963) N - "Based on ""Did You Ever See A Lassie""" | PD Reprint | |
| Mother Machree Popular Song |
1910 - m. Chauncey Olcott, Ernest Ball, w. Rida Johnson Young V - There's a spot in me heart which no colleen may own, There's a depth in me soul never sounded or known; There's a place in my mem'ry, my life, that you fill, No other can take it, no one ever will. C - Sure, I love the dear silver that shines in your hair, And the kiss the dear fingers, so toil-worn for me, Oh, God bless you and keep you, Mother Machree! | PD Reprint | |
| Mountain Greenery Popular Song |
1926 - w. Lorenz Hart, m. Richard Rodgers | PD Reprint | |
| Mountains O' Mourne Popular Song |
PD Reprint | ||
| Mounties Popular Song |
1924 - w. Otto Harbach & Oscar Hammerstein II m. Rudolf Friml P - Rose Marie | PD Reprint | |
| Mowing the Barley Traditional |
PD Reprint | ||
| Mr. Crump (Memphis Blues) | See The Memphis Blues | ||
| Mr. Jelly-Lord Popular Song |
1923 - m. Ferdinand 'Jelly Roll' Morton (1890-1941) | PD Reprint | |
| Mulberry Bush Children |
V - Here we go round the mulberry bush, so early in the morning. C - This is the way we wash our hands, wash our hands . . . so early in the morning. N - a.k.a. Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush. Also action song This Is The Way We Wash Our Hands | PD Reprint | |
| My Best Girl Popular Song |
1924 - w.m. Walter Donaldson | PD Reprint | |
| My Best Girl's A New Yorker Traditional |
1895 - w.m. John Stromberg V - Singing in praise of your sweetheart describing her many perfections C - My best girl's a Corker. Not the kind that's slow. Born and bred New Yorker I would have you know. | PD Reprint | |
| My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean College |
V - My Bonnie lies over the ocean, My Bonnie lies over the sea, My Bonnie lies over the ocean, Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me. C - Bring back, bring back, bring back my Bonnie to me, to me. Bring back, bring back, Oh! bring back my Bonnie to me. | PD Reprint | |
| My Country! 'Tis of Thee | See America | ||
| My Dream Of The Big Parade Popular Song |
1926 - w. Al Dubin, m. Jimmy McHugh | PD Reprint | |
| My Gal Sal Popular Song |
1905 - w.m. Paul Dresser | PD Reprint | |
| My Isle of Golden Dreams Popular Song |
1919 - m. Walter Blaufuss, w. Gus Kahn V - Out of the mist, lips I have kissed, call tenderly. Out of the west, hands I have pressed, Beckon to me. | PD Reprint | |
| My Little Nest Of Heavenly Blue Popular Song |
1923 - w. A.M. Wilner, Heinz Reichert, Sigmund Spaeth, m. Franz Lehar | PD Reprint | |
| My Lord, Delibered Daniel Spiritual |
V - I met a pilgrim on de way, An' I ask him what he's a gwine. I'm bound for Canaan's happy lan', An' dis is de shouting band. C - My Lord delibered Daniel . . . Why can't he deliber me? | PD Reprint | |
| My Mammy Popular Song |
1920 - m. Walter Donaldson, w. Sam Lewis, Joe Young V - Ev'ry thing seems lonely When you start to roam. The birds are singing the day that you stray But wait until you are further away. C - Mammy, Mammy, The sun shines East, the sun shines West, But I just learned where the sun shines best. Mammy Mammy. | PD Reprint | |
| My Man (Mon Homme) Popular Song |
1921 - m. Maurice Yvain, w. Channing Pollock | PD Reprint | |
| My Melancholy Baby Popular Song |
1912 - m. Ernie Burnett, w. George A. Norton V - Come sweetheart mine, Don't sit and pine, Tell me of the cares that make you feel so blue. What have I done? Answer me, Hon' C - Come to me, my melancholy baby, Cuddle up and don't be blue; All your fears are foolish fancy, may be, You know dear that I am strong for you. | PD Reprint | |
| My Mother's Rosary Popular Song |
1915 - m. George Meyer, w. Sam Lewis | PD Reprint | |
| My Old Kentucky Home Traditional |
1853 - w.m. Stephen Collins Foster (1826 - 1864) V - The sun shines bright in my old Kentucky home, 'Tis summer, the darkies are gay C - Weep no more, my lady, Oh! Weep no more today! | PD Reprint | |
| My Sweetheart's the Man in the Moon Traditional |
1892 V - Ev'rybody has a sweetheart underneath the rose, Ev'rybody loves a body, so the old song goes. C - My sweetheart's thj man in the moon, I'm going to marry him soon, 'Twould fill me with bliss, just to give him one kiss . . . | PD Reprint | |
| My Sweetie Turned Me Down Popular Song |
1925 - w. Gus Kahn, m. Walter Donaldson | PD Reprint | |
| My Sweetie Went Away Popular Song |
1923 - w. Roy Turk m. Lou Handman | PD Reprint | |
| My Time Is Your Time Popular Song |
1924 - w. Eric Little m. Leo Dance | PD Reprint | |
| My Wild Irish Rose Traditional |
1899 - Chauncy Olcott V - If you listen I'll sing you a sweet little song, Of a flower that's now droped and dead. Yet dearer to me, yes, than all of its mates, Tho' each holds aloft it's proud head. C - My wild Irish Rose, the sweetest flow'r that grows. You may search everywhere, but none can compare, with my wild Irish Rose. | PD Reprint | |
