Nothing improves a mood quite like catchy melodies and relatable lyrics from folk rock songs. This genre has produced timeless classics from Joan Baez's 'Diamonds and Rust' and Woody Guthrie's 'This Land is Your Land'.
If you're looking for the best songs to add to your folk rock playlist, we've got you covered. We're bringing our A-game to ensure you can stay up to date with the latest hits, as the folk rock genre is ever-evolving.
Below is a whole selection of our carefully handpicked folk rock bangers that are sure to find a place in your playlists. And if you read right to the end, I've included a link to a compiled list in a Spotify playlist!
Our Top 10 Picks of the Best Folk Rock Songs For Every Occasion
1. "All I Want" by Logan Ransley
"All I Want by Logan Ransley" is a gem released on January 21, 2024. Sometimes, it takes losing someone dear to realize how much they meant to you. This song beautifully tells the story of rediscovering love after a loss, reminiscing, and recognizing the true value of that special person in your life.
If you like this song, you may like other folk-rock inspired songs by Logan Ransley that will surely add a touch of magic to your Spotify playlists. Consider checking amazing tracks like “Expectation by Logan Ransley”, “Son by Logan Ransley” and “I Don't Know Where I'm Going by Logan Ransley”.
2. "Diamonds and Rust" by Joan Baez
If you're a folk rock fan, you would definitely like this piece released in the mid-70s. This song narrates a shocking phone call from an ex-partner that brings Baez to a ‘crummy’ hotel in the village of Greenwich. In the song, she revealed how she gifted him a pair of cufflinks and stated that memories are like having valuable diamonds as well as a rusty experience. The fun fact about the song is that it is based on her past relationship with the famous Bob Dylan.
Listen to "Diamonds and Rust" by Joan Baez on YouTube
3. "Goodnight Irene" by Lead Belly
This classic was composed back in 1933 by Huddie Ledbetter (Lead Belly). Although, it was The Weavers who made it famous with their rendition of this song. This was a hit back in the day, and other folk music artists emulated this piece by recording their own versions. Notable names like Frank Sinatra and Moon Mullican all had chart-topping hits with the song that same year.
Listen to "Goodnight Irene" by Huddie Ledbetter on YouTube
4. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel
This masterpiece was recorded and sung by both Paul Simon & Garfunkel and is their evergreen song. It was released in January 1970 and instantly became the group’s most successful single. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for six consecutive weeks. Since then, this song has become one of those classics covered by various folk music artists, like Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, and many more. Indeed, over 50 folk music artists have recorded their version of this fantastic song. Rolling Stone even placed it at position 48 in the list of 500 all-time greatest songs.
Listen to "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel on YouTube
5. "This Land is Your Land" by Woody Guthrie
This is perhaps one of America's most popular and frequently performed folk songs. Some even regard it as a form of national anthem. Guthrie penned the lyrics in response to another song by Kate Smith titled "God Blessed America for Me." His sarcastic take on the song was forgotten for about five years until the 1960s, when it resurfaced as part of the fight for social justice in the United States. The Library of Congress officially marked the song as a record of American Culture in 2002.
Listen to "This Land is Your Land" by Woody Guthrie on YouTube
6. "Last Goodbye" by Jeff Buckley
Released in 1994, this folk-inspired song was Jeff Buckley’s biggest hit in the United States; it peaked at 19 on the Billboard’s list of Alternative Songs. Meanwhile, the song was originally titled ‘Unforgiven,’ and the composition was a mix of alternative rock and pop rock genres. Moreover, a music video was created for the song, which involved Buckley and his band performing on stage while videos were projected onto them and the backdrop.
Listen to "Last Goodbye" by Jeff Buckley on YouTube
7. "Both Sides Now" by Judy Collins
Judy Collins made this folk song famous by recording it in the late 1960s, and it instantly made its way into the United States singles chart. To this date, this song remains one of her favorite and most publicly known songs. Rolling Stone fulfilled that by placing the song among the greatest ones as it was listed 170 in the 500 Greatest Songs list in 2004. This song also received a Grammy Award for the Best Folk Performance in 1969. Meaningful lyrics and the grace of Collins’ voice made this song an eternal hit that new generations of fans of the folk rock genre can enjoy.
Listen to "Both Sides Now" by Judy Collins on YouTube
8. "A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall" by Bob Dylan
The gifted Bob Dylan wrote this powerful folk rock song in the summer of 1962. It’s like the old ballad in that its structure conforms to the patterns of question and answer. The mentioned songs describe severe issues like pain, pollution, war, etc. Dylan even said that he wrote the lyrics based on things he had the possibility of perhaps never writing. It's like a real snapshot of the serious stuff going on in the world at the time. The way he put it all together is just quite amazing.
Listen to "A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall" by Bob Dylan on YouTube
9. "Early Morning Rain" by Gordon Lightfoot
This masterpiece was written, composed, and recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot in 1964. The lyrics of the song describe the misfortune of a man who observes the movement of a Boeing 707 aircraft on the airport strip. Indeed, Lightfoot once stated that his maturation as a songwriter enabled him to document this type of moment in such a poetic and realistic manner. It was truly a masterpiece that displayed the creativity of the renowned folk rock music artist.
Listen to "Early Morning Rain" by Gordon Lightfoot on YouTube
10. "The Mary Ellen Carter" by Stan Rogers
This folk rock song was composed by Stan Rogers, who wrote it with the purpose of motivating people; this song reportedly has helped to save at least one person’s life. This particular song is now an anthem of sorts in the folk music style and has been sung by many other great folk music artists. It tells the story of an imaginary vessel called Mary Ellen Carter and recounts a sad story of how the ship sank into the North Atlantic. The song is all about not giving up and fighting to bring the ship back up from the depths. It's really powerful and has this amazing message of hope and perseverance.
Listen to "The Mary Ellen Carter" by Stan Rogers on YouTube
Bonus: "Crossroads" by Logan Ransley
Feeling torn between different choices in life? “Crossroads by Logan Ransley” captures that inner battle perfectly. The song is about seeking guidance, questioning which road to take, and dealing with the fear of making the wrong decision. We've all been there!
Save the playlist on Spotify!
There you have it, our top 10 folk rock songs for every occasion! We hope you enjoyed our selections and discovered some new favorites to add to your collection. Let us know what you think about our picks and if there are any songs you believe should be on this list. Drop a comment below and share your thoughts! We’d love to hear from you.
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Happy listening!