The legendary folk singer Pete Seeger once said he wanted to "put a song on people's lips, instead of just in their ear." During the dawning years of the urban folk revival (1957-62), Folkways Records released Seeger's five-record series American Favorite Ballads, which encouraged a new generation to sing along to classic 19th-century tunes. Now, Folkways has reissued the albums, including previously unreleased material such as "Strawberry Roan," a ditty about a broncobuster who finally meets the horse that can throw him.
Listen to Pete Seeger sing "Strawberry Roan"
Music courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways, the non-profit record label of the Smithsonian Institution. Please click here to purchase or for more information
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Comments (15)
Johnny Cash looks like he "borrowed" this tune for his song "Strawberry Cake" which he sang at his September 1975 live performance at the London Palladium. The album was also called Strawberry Cake. It was released in 1976.
Posted by Dave Birchall on April 20,2012 | 08:49 PM
I am approaching my 81st birthday and listening to Pete Seeger sing 'The Strawberry Roan' I can still hear my father singing the same song. My father died at 52 years of age in 1951.
Posted by Florence Jansen on July 24,2008 | 04:57 PM
MAC USERS: also worked for me on Internet Explorer but not Safari. Ditto what Ms. Famularo said about Pete Seeger-- he is a national treasure.
Posted by Tina Rhea on March 26,2008 | 05:19 PM
MAC USERS ATTENTION: you may be able to listen to the clip using Firefox. It worked for me! Good luck and happy listening to an American treasure. I should add that Mr. Seeger is not only a great singer and songwriter, but he is also a stand-up citizen who never fails to help when he has the chance. He lives in a nearby town and is present at environmental and political action gatherings. He is kind and generous and visits schools to sing with children. Once a month he makes an appearance in Beacon to sing with a crowd of people who just want to sing with him. He is a great man.
Posted by Julia Famularo on March 20,2008 | 09:50 AM
Sweet memories of my days as a child listening to "music from the farm" in Canada.
Posted by sylvia charlton on February 22,2008 | 03:58 PM
Mitsy eyed to hear clear sroried songs/cum banjo. It was sad to lose Tommy Maken, but Pete is my hero too.
Posted by Sharon Potter Jankauskas on February 14,2008 | 12:38 PM
I listened to "Strawberry Roan", and enjoyed it, even with my 79 year old "bad hearing". I was inspired by an article [page 38, "Smithsonian"] to play my 33 rpm player Pete Seeger "Children's Concert at Town Hall" first. I'd like to copy all my 33 rpm records to at least CD's. How? I have a bird call, "cheep, cheap, cheap cheep" so my wife can shop once in a while. I have at least 50 33rpm recordings, most from about 30 to 50 years ago.
Posted by Robert L. Lawrence on February 1,2008 | 01:43 PM
I didn't get to hear the recording on my very slow dial up connection, but I'm going to have my family in Ohio try. That was my dad's favorite song. I'm sure it will bring back some good memories for my mom.
Posted by Marybelle Cooper on January 25,2008 | 04:51 PM
I can't get Strawberry Roan to play. I use a Mac running 10.5 with Safari. Any suggestions?
Posted by Kimo Douglas on January 17,2008 | 08:42 PM
What a great song. I always thought it was written for Marty Robbins because he was only one I every heard sing it. It was great to hear it sung by the author.
Posted by John Clark on January 16,2008 | 09:54 AM
Marvelous music from Pete Seeger this morning.
Posted by Marilyn Malina on January 9,2008 | 09:29 AM
How very wonderful to hear Pete Seegar sing and pluck a great folk song in the American tradition of telling stories I learned about 15 years ago that I was related to Pete Seeger on my maternal side - Grandmother Leon Seeger Schaefer. And my Mom corresponded with Pete Seeger. What a thrill! Thanks for the memories!
Posted by Ellen McGinn on January 8,2008 | 08:37 PM
Would love to hear it, but it won't play on my Mac !! :-(
Posted by Nellie Chase on January 8,2008 | 06:21 PM
It's not the Strawberry Roan we use to sing in the fifties, but great never the less.
Posted by Jack Childs on January 5,2008 | 12:19 PM