10 Historical Songs for Kids: Folk, Protest, and Patriotic Tunes

The following list presents ten historical songs that are both engaging and educational for children.

Music is one of the most powerful ways to introduce children to history, culture, and important social movements. Many historical songs carry fascinating stories, whether they began as folk tunes passed down through generations, anthems of resistance, or patriotic hymns of national pride. These songs have not only entertained but also shaped societies, inspiring movements and uniting people in moments of joy, hardship, and change.

The following list presents ten historical songs that are both engaging and educational for children. These include folk songs with timeless melodies, protest songs that have fueled social change, and national anthems that symbolize the spirit of nations. By exploring these songs, kids can connect with history in a meaningful way, learning about the past through the power of music.

Table of Contents

1. This Land is Your Land
2. We Shall Overcome
3. Waltzing Matilda
4. Bella Ciao
5. Blowin’ in the Wind
6. London Bridge is Falling Down
7. Guantanamera
8. Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika
9. Yankee Doodle
10. La Marseillaise
    1. Original French lyrics
    2. English translation (source)
11. Conclusion

1

This Land is Your Land

(USA) – Woody Guthrie

• Type: Folk song / Protest song
• Historical Context: Written by Woody Guthrie in 1940 as a response to Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America,” this song highlights the beauty of the American landscape and promotes inclusivity.
• Political Associations: Originally a critique of inequality, it has been embraced by both patriotic and progressive movements.

LYRICS

This land is your land, this land is my land
From California to the New York island,
From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters;
This land was made for you and me.

As I was walking that ribbon of highway
I saw above me that endless skyway;
I saw below me that golden valley;
This land was made for you and me.

I’ve roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts;
And all around me a voice was sounding;
This land was made for you and me.

When the sun came shining, and I was strolling,
And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling,
As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting:
This land was made for you and me.

As I went walking I saw a sign there,
And on the sign it said “No Trespassing.”
But on the other side it didn’t say nothing.
That side was made for you and me.

In the shadow of the steeple I saw my people,
By the relief office I seen my people;
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking
Is this land made for you and me?

Nobody living can ever stop me,
As I go walking that freedom highway;
Nobody living can ever make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.

2

We Shall Overcome

(USA) – Traditional

• Type: Protest song / Civil Rights anthem
• Historical Context: Originating as a gospel song, it became the anthem of the American Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s, symbolizing hope and perseverance.
• Political Associations: Strongly linked to social justice, civil rights, and progressive causes.

LYRICS

We shall overcome,
We shall overcome,
We shall overcome, some day.

Oh, deep in my heart,
I do believe
We shall overcome, some day.

We’ll walk hand in hand,
We’ll walk hand in hand,
We’ll walk hand in hand, some day.

Oh, deep in my heart,
I do believe
We shall overcome, some day.

We shall live in peace,
We shall live in peace,
We shall live in peace, some day.

Oh, deep in my heart,
I do believe
We shall overcome, some day.

We are not afraid,
We are not afraid,
We are not afraid, TODAY

Oh, deep in my heart,
I do believe
We shall overcome, some day.

The whole wide world around
The whole wide world around
The whole wide world around some day

Oh, deep in my heart,
I do believe
We shall overcome, some day.

3

Waltzing Matilda

(Australia) – Banjo Paterson

• Type: Folk song
• Historical Context: Written by Banjo Paterson in 1895, this Australian song tells the story of a wandering worker and has become an unofficial national anthem for Australia.
• Political Associations: Mostly neutral, though sometimes seen as a song of rebellion against authority.

LYRICS

Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong
Under the shade of a coolibah tree,
And he sang as he watched and waited ’til his billy boiled
“You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me”.

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
“You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me”
And he sang as he watched and waited ’til his billy boiled,
“You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me”.

Down came a jumbuck to drink at that billabong,
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee,
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker bag,
“You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me”.

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
“You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me”
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker bag,
“You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me”.

Up rode the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred,
Down came the troopers, one, two, three,
“Where’s that jolly jumbuck you’ve got in your tucker bag?”
“You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me”.

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
“You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me”
“Where’s that jolly jumbuck you’ve got in your tucker bag?”,
“You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me”.

Up jumped the swagman and sprang into the billabong,
“You’ll never catch me alive”, said he,
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong,
“You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me”.

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
“You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me”
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong,
“You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me.”
“Oh, You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me.”

4

Bella Ciao

(Italy) – Traditional

• Type: Protest song
• Historical Context: Originally an Italian folk song, it became famous as the anthem of Italian anti-fascist partisans during World War II. Today, it is sung in many protests worldwide.
• Political Associations: Strongly tied to anti-fascism, resistance, and left-wing movements.

LYRICS

5

Blowin’ in the Wind

(USA) – Bob Dylan

• Type: Folk song / Protest song
• Historical Context: Written by Bob Dylan in 1962, this song became an anthem of the civil rights and anti-war movements, asking rhetorical questions about peace and justice.
• Political Associations: Associated with progressive, anti-war, and social justice movements.

LYRICS

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, and how many times must the cannonballs fly
Before they’re forever banned?

The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind

Yes, and how many years must a mountain exist
Before it is washed to the sea?
And how many years can some people exist
Before they’re allowed to be free?
Yes, and how many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn’t see?

The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind

Yes, and how many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
And how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, and how many deaths will it take ’til he knows
That too many people have died?

The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind

6

London Bridge is Falling Down

(UK) – Traditional

• Type: Nursery rhyme / Folk song
• Historical Context: A traditional English song that dates back centuries, possibly referencing Viking attacks, bridge collapses, or medieval reconstruction efforts.
• Political Associations: None, primarily a children’s song with historical references.

LYRICS

1. London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady.

2. Build it up with wood and clay,
Wood and clay, wood and clay,
Build it up with wood and clay,
My fair lady.

3. Wood and clay will wash away,
Wash away, wash away,
Wood and clay will wash away,
My fair lady.

4. Build it up with bricks and mortar,
Bricks and mortar, bricks and mortar,
Build it up with bricks and mortar,
My fair lady.

5. Bricks and mortar will not stay,
Will not stay, will not stay,
Bricks and mortar will not stay,
My fair lady.

6. Build it up with iron and steel,
Iron and steel, iron and steel,
Build it up with iron and steel,
My fair lady.

7. Iron and steel will bend and bow,
Bend and bow, bend and bow,
Iron and steel will bend and bow,
My fair lady.

8. Build it up with silver and gold,
Silver and gold, silver and gold,
Build it up with silver and gold,
My fair lady.

9. Silver and gold will be stolen away,
Stolen away, stolen away,
Silver and gold will be stolen away,
My fair lady.

10. Set a man to watch all night,
Watch all night, watch all night,
Set a man to watch all night,
My fair lady.

11. Suppose the man should fall asleep,
Fall asleep, fall asleep,
Suppose the man should fall asleep?
My fair lady.

12. Give him a pipe to smoke all night,
Smoke all night, smoke all night,
Give him a pipe to smoke all night,
My fair lady.

7

Guantanamera

(Cuba) – José Martí (lyrics), traditional melody

• Type: Folk song / Protest song
• Historical Context: Based on a poem by José Martí, a Cuban national hero, this song is widely known for its themes of freedom, justice, and love for one’s homeland.
• Political Associations: Has been used in Cuban nationalism and sometimes in leftist political contexts.

LYRICS

8

Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika

(South Africa) – Enoch Sontonga

• Type: National anthem / Hymn
• Historical Context: Originally a hymn composed in 1897, it became a symbol of resistance against apartheid and later part of South Africa’s national anthem.
• Political Associations: Closely linked to anti-apartheid movements and African unity.

LYRICS

9

Yankee Doodle

(USA) – Traditional

• Type: Folk song / Patriotic song
• Historical Context: Originally a British song mocking American colonists, it was later adopted as a patriotic tune during the American Revolution.
• Political Associations: Primarily a nationalist and patriotic song.

LYRICS

1. Yankee Doodle went to town
A-riding on a pony
Stuck a feather in his cap
And called it macaroni.

Yankee Doodle, keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy.

2. Father and I went down to camp
Along with Captain Gooding
And there we saw the men and boys
As thick as hasty pudding.

Yankee Doodle, keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy

3. There was Captain Washington
Upon a slapping stallion
A-giving orders to his men
I guess there were a million.

Yankee Doodle, keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy.

Yankee Doodle, keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy

10

La Marseillaise

(France) – Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle

• Type: National anthem / Revolutionary song
• Historical Context: Composed in 1792 during the French Revolution, this song became the official national anthem of France, calling citizens to defend liberty and democracy.
• Political Associations: Strongly tied to the ideals of the French Revolution, including liberty, democracy, and opposition to monarchy, and to both left- and right-wing nationalist movements throughout history.

Note:
As a war song written during the French Revolution, the lyrics of “La Marseillaise” contain vivid and graphic references to battle and bloodshed, which some caregivers may find unsuitable for children.

LYRICS

Conclusion

Historical songs are a wonderful way to introduce children to different cultures, historical events, and important social movements.

Whether it’s a folk tune that has been sung for generations, a protest anthem that has inspired change, or a patriotic song that symbolizes national identity, these songs help connect young listeners to the past. By learning and singing them, kids can engage with history in an interactive and meaningful way, fostering an appreciation for music’s role in shaping the world.

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