WBest Known Public Domain SongsW List of 57
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. | |||
| Wait 'Til the Sun Shine Nellie Popular Song |
1905 - m. Harry Von Tilzer, w. Andrew Sterling | PD Reprint | |
| Wait Till My Ship Comes In Popular Song |
1898 - m. Max S. Witt, w. George Taggart | PD Reprint | |
| Waitin' For The Evenin' Mail Popular Song |
1923 - Billy Baskette | PD Reprint | |
| Waiting for the Robert E. Lee Popular Song |
1912 - m. Lewis F. Muir, w. L. Wolfe Gilbert | PD Reprint | |
| Waltz Me Around Again, Willie Popular Song |
1906 - m. Ren Shields, w. Will D. Cobb | PD Reprint | |
| Waltz of the Flowers- The Nutcracker Suite Traditional |
1891 - Tchaikovsky | PD Reprint | |
| Waltzing Matilda Traditional |
1903 V - Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong, Under the shade of a coolibah tree, And he sang as he watched and waited till his Billy boiled, 'You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me.' C - Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda, You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me. N - CAUTION: Many well known versions were published after 1922 and are NOT in the public domain in the USA. | PD Reprint | |
| Wang Wang Blues Popular Song |
1921 - m. Gus Mueller, Buster Johnson, Henry Busse, w. Leo Wood | PD Reprint | |
| Washington and Lee Swing Popular Song |
PD Reprint | ||
| Washington Post Patriotic |
1889 - m. John Philip Sousa N - March | PD Reprint | |
| Way Down Upon the Swanee River | See Old Folks at Home | ||
| Way Down Yonder in New Orleans Popular Song |
1922 - w.m. Henry Creamer, Turner Layton V - Guess! Where do you think I'm going when the winds start blowing strong? Guess! Where do you think I'm going when the nights start growing long? C - Way down yonder in New Orleans In the land of dreamy scenes There's a garden of Eden. That's what I mean. | PD Reprint | |
| We Shall Overcome Traditional |
V - We shall overcome. We shall overcome. We shall overcome some day. Oh, deep in my heart I do believe We shall overcome some day.
N - Possibly spiritual or derivative of I'll Overcome Some Day by C. Albert Tindley, 1900. Placed in public domain by judicial judgment of USDC Southern District: 'the Defendants have no valid copyright in the words and melody of the first verse of 'We Shall Overcome' because it lacks originality.' |
PD Reprint | |
| We Shall Overcome | See We Shall Overcome | ||
| We Won't Go Home Till Morning Traditional |
V - We're all met here together, We all met here together . . . To eat and drink good cheer C - For we won't go home till morning,We won't go home till morning . . . Till day light does appear. N - Tune: For He's A Jolly Good Fellow | PD Reprint | |
| Wearin' o' the Green Traditional |
1798 | PD Reprint | |
| Were You There? Spiritual |
V - Were you there when they crucified my Lord? C - O sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, Were you there when they crucified my Lord? | PD Reprint | |
| West Of The Great Divide Popular Song |
1924 - w. George Whiting, m. Ernest R. Ball | PD Reprint | |
| Westminster Quarters Traditional |
1793 - Likely by Rev. Dr. Joseph Jowett, Dr. John Randall, William Crotch
N - a.k.a. Westminster Chimes Chimes of Big Ben clock in London |
PD Reprint | |
| What A Friend We Have in Jesus Hymn |
1876 - m. C. Crozat Converse, w. H. Bonar V - What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and grief to bear | PD Reprint | |
| What Has Become Of Hinky Dinky Parlay Voo Popular Song |
1924 - w.m. Al Dubin, Irving Mills, Jimmy McHugh, Irwin Dash V - Do you ever think of the time when all of the boys went 'cross the sea, To the land of Wee Wee Wee, Where they rolled with Sweet Marie C - What has become of 'Hinky Dinky Parlay Voo'? . . . Maybe she still is true to you and true to the rest of the army, too. Hinky Dinky Parlay Voo N - Has 26 verses. | PD Reprint | |
| What You Goin' To Do When The Rent Comes 'Round Popular Song |
1905 - m. Harry Von Tilzer, w. Andrew Sterling C - Rufus Rastus Johnson Brown, What You Goin' To Do When The Rent Comes 'Round | PD Reprint | |
| What'll I Do Popular Song |
1924 - w.m. Irving Berlin P - Music Box Revue of 1923 | PD Reprint | |
| When Clouds Have Vanished And Skies Are Blue Popular Song |
1923 - m. Charles L. Johnson, w. William R. Clay V - Sweetheart, of you I am dreaming. Here in the sunset glow; And while the night winds are bringing Thot's of the long ago. C - When clouds have vanished and skies are blue, I'll come back, sweetheart, to you. Back to the best pal I ever knew, Your smiles and your love so true. | PD Reprint | |
| When Do We Dance Popular Song |
1925 - w. Ira Gershwin, m. George Gershwin | PD Reprint | |
| When Irish Eyes Are Smiling Popular Song |
1912 - m. Ernest Ball, w. Chauncey Olcott, George Graff V - There's a tear in your eye, And I'm wondering why, For it never should be there at all. C - When Irish eyes are smiling, Sure it's like a morn in Spring. In the lilt of Irish laughter, You can hear the angels sing. | PD Reprint | |
| When It's Night Time In Italy, It's Wednesday Over Here Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. James Kendis, Lew Brown | PD Reprint | |
| When Johnny Comes Marching Home Patriotic |
1863 - w.m. Louis Lambert, pseudonymn of Patrick Sarsfield Gil V - When Johnny comes marching home again, Hurrah! Hurrah! We'll give him a hearty welcome then. Hurrah! Hurrah! C - . . . And we'll all feel gay when Johnny comes marching home. N - Possibly derived from Irish Anti-War Song "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye" | PD Reprint | |
| When June Comes Along With A Song Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. George M. Cohan (1878-1942) | PD Reprint | |
| When My Baby Smiles at Me Popular Song |
1919 - m. Bill Munro, w. Andrew Sterling, Ted Lewis | PD Reprint | |
| When My Sugar Walks Down The Street Popular Song |
1924 - w.m. Gene Austin, Jimmy McHugh & Irving Mills V - I know a thing or two And I'm telling you I've got a wonderful gal. She's got the cutest smile. A million dollar style. C - When my sugar goes down the street All the little birdies go tweet, tweet, tweet, And in the ev'ning when the sun goes down It's never dark when she's around. | PD Reprint | |
| When the Chariot Comes Spiritual |
V - O who will drive the chariot when she cu-hu-hu-hu-hums? O who will drive chariot when she comes? C - O who will drive the chariot, O who will drive the chariot, O who will drive the chariot when she comes? N - Original tune for She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain | PD Reprint | |
| When The Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin' Popular Song |
1926 - w.m. Harry Woods V - I heard a robin this morning, I'm feeling happy today. Goin' to pack my cares in a whistle, And blow them all away. C - When the red, red, robin comes bob, bob, bobin' a long, along. There'll be no more sobbin' When he starts throbbin' his old sweet song. | PD Reprint | |
| When the Saints Go Marching In Popular Song |
1925 - Origin Unknown, Likely Black Spiritual, 1896 or earlier
V - When the saints go marching in. When the saints go marching in. Lord I want to be among that number When the saints go marching in.
C - Verse2: When the graves give up their dead. Verse3: When they crown Him Lord of all.
N - Earliest published version as song is known today was likely in 1925 By Theo Harris. 'March In' with a 1925 copyright notice was addended to a reprinting of his 1919 hymnal 'Songs Of his Coming'. A hymn published in 1896, When the Saints Are Marching In, w. Katharine E. Purvis, m. James M. Black, is similar but far from exact. |
PD Reprint | |
| When You and I Were Seventeen Popular Song |
1924 - w. Gus Kahn m. Charles Rosoff | PD Reprint | |
| When You and I Were Young, Maggie Popular Song |
1866 - w. George W. Johnson, m. James Austin Butterfield V - I wandered today to the hill, Maggie, To watch the scene below! The creek and the creaking old mis, Maggie, As we used to long a go. C - Maggie, Since you and I were young. | PD Reprint | |
| When You Walked Out Someone Else Walked Right In Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Irving Berlin (1888 - 1989) V - My honey do you remember 'twas a December day, I said that you would repent the day that you went away. C - When you walked out someone else walked right in. Someone with good news stepped right in your shoes. | PD Reprint | |
| When You Wore a Tulip and I Wore a Big Red Rose Popular Song |
1914 - m. Percy Weinrich, w. Jack Mahoney | PD Reprint | |
| Where Do You Work-a John? Popular Song |
1926 - w.m. Mortimer Weinberg, Charley Marks, Harry Warren N - Push-a Push-a Push' Comic Song with Many Verses | PD Reprint | |
| Where Has My Little Dog Gone College |
V - Oh where, oh where has my little dog tone. Oh, where, oh where can he be? | PD Reprint | |
| Where The Lazy Daisies Grow Popular Song |
1924 - w.m. Cliff Friend | PD Reprint | |
| Where'd You Get Those Eyes Popular Song |
1926 - w.m. Walter Donaldson, Abe Lyman | PD Reprint | |
| Whiffenpoof Song Popular Song |
1909 - m. Tod Galloway, w. Meade Minnigerode, George S. Pomeroy V - From the tables down at Mory's, to the place where Judas dwells, to the dear old Temple Bar we love so well. C - We are poor little lambs who have gone astray. Baa Baa Baa. We are little black sheep who have lost our way. Baa Baa Baa. | PD Reprint | |
| Whispering Popular Song |
1920 - m. John Schonberger, w. Malvin Schonberger V - Honey I have something to tell you And it's worthwhile listening to C - Whispering while you cuddle near me, Whispering so no one can hear me. | PD Reprint | |
| Whispering Hope Popular Song |
1868 - w.m. Alice Hawthorne V - Soft as the voice of an angel, Breathing a lesson unheard. Hope with a gentle persuasion, Whispers her comforting word C - Whispering Hope, Oh how welcome thy voice. Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice. N - Alice Hawthorne is pseudonymn for Septimus Winner | PD Reprint | |
| White Coral Bells (May Bells) Traditional |
V - White Coral Bells upon a slender stalk -- Lillies of the valley deck our garden walk. Oh, don't you wish that you could hear them ring . . . | PD Reprint | |
| Who Takes Care of the Caretaker's Daughter Popular Song |
1925 - w.m. Chick Endor V - I know that Babe Ruth makes home runs And Dempsey is the champ. Marconi made the radio and Cleopatra was a vamp. C - Who takes care of the caretaker's daughter While the caretaker's busy taking care? Gee! Oh! Gosh oh! Gee! That's what worries me. | PD Reprint | |
| Who? Popular Song |
1925 - m. Jerome Kern | PD Reprint | |
| Who'll Buy My Violets Popular Song |
1923 - w. E. Ray Goetz m. Jose Padilla | PD Reprint | |
| Who's Sorry Now? Popular Song |
1923 - w. Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby, m. Ted Snyder P - A Night In Casablanca - The Marx Brothers V - You smiled when we parted, It hurt me somehow, I thought there were was nothing worthwhile. The tables are turning And you're crying now C - Who's sorry now? . . .Whose heart is aching for breaking each vow? Who's sad and blue? Who's crying too? Just like I cried over you. | PD Reprint | |
| Why Did I Kiss That Girl? Popular Song |
1924 - w. Lew Brown m. Robert A. King & Ray Henderson | PD Reprint | |
| Why Do I Love You? Popular Song |
1925 - w. Ira Gershwin, Bud DeSylva, m. George Gershwin | PD Reprint | |
| Wild Flower Popular Song |
1923 - w. Otto Harbach & Oscar Hammerstein II m. Vincent Youmans & Herbert Stothar | PD Reprint | |
| Wild Irish Rose | See My Wild Irish Rose | ||
| William Tell Overture Traditional |
1829 - Rossini N - TV Theme for "The Lone Ranger" | PD Reprint | |
| Wolverine Blues Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Ferdinand 'Jelly Roll' Morton, Benjamin Spikes & John C. Spikes | PD Reprint | |
| Wreck On The Southern Old 97 Popular Song |
1924 - w.m. Henry Whitter V - They gave him up his order at Monroe Vaginia, saying Steve you're way behind time. This is not 'Thirty Eight' but it's 'Old Ninety-seven', You must put her in Spencer on time. N - a.k.a. Wreck Of The Old 97 (1944) | PD Reprint | |
