A musical journey into Carl Sandburg's American folk songs

Sandy Perkins recounts how Carl Sandburg bought a guitar in 1910 and spent sixteen years compiling the historic collection known as The American Songbag.

How Carl Sandburg Preserved American Folk Music

The heartbreaking story behind Midnight Special

John Perkins explains the poignant imagery behind Midnight Special, where an inmate awaits the brief sweep of a passing train light through his cell window.

The True Meaning Behind Midnight Special

John Perkins performs the famous Houston stanza of Midnight Special with upbeat acoustic fingerpicking and soulful blues vocals.

Midnight Special Houston Jail Verse

Sandy Perkins reads Carl Sandburg's account of Railroad Bill, the ruthless outlaw whose exploits became an enduring southern work song.

The Outlaw Legend of Railroad Bill

The performer delivers an energetic rendition of the classic outlaw ballad Railroad Bill, chronicling a notorious outlaw and a vengeful confrontation.

The Legend of Railroad Bill

The musician invites the audience to sing along to the timeless sea chantey Sloop John B, performing the iconic opening verse and chorus.

Singing the Original Sloop John B

Did you bring gold, or come to see me hang?

Performing the centuries-old ballad The Maid Freed from the Gallows, the singer reveals the grim scene where a condemned man discovers his own father came only to watch him hang.

A Chilling Gallows Ballad Twist

Will she make it before the gallows drops?

A condemned man begs the executioner to pause the rope as he spots his true love riding in the distance with the gold to pay his fee.

A Gallows Rescue in Folk Song

America's most famous gutter song explained

A narrator reads Carl Sandburg's notes explaining how Frankie and Johnny evolved from an 1888 gutter song into an enduring piece of American folklore.

The History Behind America's Classic Gutter Song

The dramatic conclusion of Frankie and Johnny

Frankie confronts Johnny with a concealed pistol, leading to his fatal demise, her immediate arrest, and an unapologetic moral to the tale.

Frankie's Revenge: The Ballad Finale

[00:58] How Carl Sandburg Preserved American Folk Music
[02:09] The True Meaning Behind Midnight Special
[04:01] Midnight Special Houston Jail Verse
[04:57] The Outlaw Legend of Railroad Bill
[07:11] The Legend of Railroad Bill
[09:09] Singing the Original Sloop John B
[12:42] A Chilling Gallows Ballad Twist
[14:38] A Gallows Rescue in Folk Song
[16:03] The History Behind America's Classic Gutter Song
[20:17] Frankie's Revenge: The Ballad Finale

A musical journey into Carl Sandburg's American folk songs

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