Ten Essential Folk Songs Trivia Quiz

Answer: This Land is Your Land

"This land is your land and 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..."

This popular song has been sung in elementary school music classes across America for decades. It was written by Woody Guthrie in 1940. The melody comes from a Carter family turn titled "When the Worlds on Fire," and Guthrie wrote it in response to Irving Berlin's "God Bless America."

Answer: Blowin' in the Wind

"The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind..."

Bob Dylan wrote "Blowin' in the Wind" in 1962 and recorded it on his 1963 album "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan." Peter, Paul, and Mary released their version in 1963 as a single from the album "In the Wind." It has since been covered by over a hundred different artists.

Answer: City of New Orleans

Written by Steve Goodman and first recorded on his self-titled 1971 album, "City of New Orleans" begins:

"Riding on the City of New Orleans
Illinois Central Monday morning rail..."

The song was famously covered by Arlo Guthrie, whose version peaked at number 18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Answer: If I Had A Hammer

"If I had a hammer
I'd hammer in the morning
I'd hammer in the evening
All over this land..."

The Weavers released the song as "The Hammer Song" in March of 1950. Peter, Paul, and Mary released a hit version of the song in 1962. Their version reached the top ten on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and won the trio two Grammy Awards for Best Folk Recording and Best Performance by a Vocal Group.

Answer: Where Have All The Flowers Gone?

"Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time ago..."

Seeger wrote the song in 1955, inspired by these lyrics from the traditional Cossack song "Koloda-Duda": "Where are the flowers, the girls have plucked them. Where are the girls, they've all taken husbands. Where are the men, they're all in the army." The Kingston Trip released their version of the song in 1961, and it peaked at Number 21 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Peter, Paul, and Mary also covered the song.

Answer: Early Morning Rain

"In the early morning rain with a dollar in my hand
With an aching in my heart and my pockets full of sand
I'm a long way from home, Lord, I miss my loved ones so
In the early morning rain with no place to go."

"Early Morning Rain" was composed by Gordon Lightfoot and released in 1966 on his debut album "Lightfoot!" Peter, Paul, and Mary recorded a version in 1965, and George Hamilton brought the song to number nine on the country music chart a year later. Oliver had an adult contemporary hit with the song in 1971, and Paul Weller brought it to number 40 on the UK charts in 2005.

Answer: Suzanne

"Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river
You can hear the boats go by, you can spend the night beside her
And you know that she's half-crazy but that's why you want to be there
And she feeds you tea and oranges that come all the way from China
And just when you mean to tell her that you have no love to give her..."

Cohen's song was inspired by his friendship with Suzanne Verdal, a dancer. The song was first published as a poem in his book "Parasites of Heaven" in 1966. He released the song as a single in 1968 from his album "Songs of Leonard Cohen." Judy Collins recorded a version on her 1966 album "In My Life."

Answer: We Shall Overcome

"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..."

"We Shall Overcome" has origins in gospel, folk, and labor songs and became an anthem for the Civil Rights movement. Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, and other popular folk singers of the 1960s were known to sing the song at festivals, rallies, and concerts.

Answer: Four Strong Winds

"Think I'll go out to Alberta
Weather's good there in the fall..."

"Four Strong Winds" was written by Ian Tyson and recorded by Ian and Sylvia in 1963. In 1978, Neil Young recorded the song for "Comes a Time." It has been covered by artists ranging from Judy Collins and Bob Dylan to Waylon Jennings, Blue Rodeo, and Johnny Cash.

Answer: Last Thing On My Mind

"It's a lesson too late for the learning
Made of sand, made of sand
In the wink of an eye my soul is turnin'
In your hand, in your hand..."

Tom Paxton released his original version of the song in 1964 from his album "Ramblin' Boy." The song was covered by Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton in 1967 and peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Bananarama recorded "Last Thing on My Mind" on their 1993 studio album, "Please Yourself."