JBest Known Public Domain SongsJ List of 36
IMPORTANT: This list is based on USA Copyright Law and is intended only as a help in researching public domain music. This list is NOT sufficient documentation that music is in the Public Domain. To prove PD status in the USA, you MUST find a published copy of the song with a copyright date of 1926 or earlier. Our PD Sheet Music Reprints are exact reprints of books and sheet music published in 1926 or earlier and include music, lyrics, and complete original copyright information. Some of these songs may not be PD in countries other than the USA.
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| Title | V=Verse C=Chorus N=Note P=Production w=Words m=Music |
1 - 3 $5 ea 4 up $4 ea | |
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| Songs are on this PD list if we have a pre-1927 PD sheet music publication in our library AND if anyone has asked about PD status of the song in the past 20 years. | |||
| Ja-Da Popular Song |
1918 - w.m. Bob Carleton V - You've heard all about your raggy melodies, Ev'ry thing from opera down to harmony, But I've a little song that I will sing to you C - Ja Da, Ja Da, Ja Da, Ja Dah, Jing, Jing, Jing. . . . That's a funny little bit of melody. It's so soothing and appealing to me. | PD Reprint | |
| Jack and Jill Children |
H. L. Handy V - Jack and Jill went up the hill, To fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down . . . | PD Reprint | |
| Jack Be Nimble Children |
V - Jack, be nimble, Jack, be quick. Jack, jump over the candle stick. | PD Reprint | |
| Jacob's Ladder Spiritual |
V - We are climbing Jacob's ladder C - Soldier of the Cross | PD Reprint | |
| Japanese Sandman Popular Song |
1920 - m. Richard Whiting, w. Raymond Egan V - Won't you stretch imagination for the moment and come with me. Let us hasten to a nation lying over the western sea. C - Here's the Japanese Sandman Sneaking on with the dew. Just an old second hand man He'll buy your old day from you. He will take every sorrow Of the day that is through | PD Reprint | |
| Jazz Me Blues Popular Song |
1921 - w.m. Tom Delaney V - Down in Louisiana in that sunny clime, They play a class of music that is super fine, And it makes no difference if it's rain or shine C - Jazz me, Come on professor and Jazz me. You know I like my dancin' both day and night, And if I don't get my jazzin I Don't feel right | PD Reprint | |
| Jealous Popular Song |
1924 - w. Tommy Malie & Dick Finch m. Jack Little | PD Reprint | |
| Jealousy [Jalousie - Tango] Popular Song |
1926 - m. Jacob Gade | PD Reprint | |
| Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair Popular Song |
1854 - w.m. Stephen Collins Foster V - I dream of Jeanie with the light brown hair. Borne, like a vapor, on the summer air. I see here tripping where the bright streams play, Happy as the daisies that dance on her way. C - I long for Jeanie and my heart bows low, Never more to find here where the bright waters flow. | PD Reprint | |
| Jelly Roll Blues Popular Song |
1915 - m. Ferdinand 'Jelly Roll' Morton (1890-1941) N - No lyrics. | PD Reprint | |
| Jenny Lind Polka Traditional |
1800's | PD Reprint | |
| Jim Crack Corn | See The Blue Tail Fly | ||
| Jimtown Blues Popular Song |
1925 - w. Fred Rose, m. Charlie Davis | PD Reprint | |
| Jingle Bells Christmas, Holiday |
1857 - w.m. James Pierpont V - Jingle Bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. On what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh. C - Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh. | PD Reprint | |
| Joan Of Arc They Are Calling You Popular Song |
1917 - m. Jack Wells, w. Alfred Bryan, Willie Weston | PD Reprint | |
| Joe Turner Blues Popular Song |
1915 - w.m. W.C. Handy V - You'll never miss the water till your well runs dry, You'll never miss Joe Turner tile he say 'Good Bye'. Sweet Babe, I'm goin' to leave you and the time ain't long C - You will be sorry, be sorry from your heart. Sorry to your heart, Some day when you and I must part. And ev'ry time you hear a whisle blow | PD Reprint | |
| Jogo Blues Traditional |
1913 - W.C. Handy | PD Reprint | |
| John Anderson, My Jo Traditional |
1827 V - John Anderson, my jo, John, When we were first acquent, Your locks were like the raven, Your bonny brow was brent; | PD Reprint | |
| John Brown's Body Traditional |
1861 V - John Brown's body lies a -mouldering in the grave . . . His soul is marching on! C - Glory, glory, hallelujah! . . . His sould is marching on. N - Tune: Dixie's Land | PD Reprint | |
| Jolly Good Fellow College |
PD Reprint | ||
| Jolly Old St. Nicholas Christmas, Holiday |
ca. 1860 - w. possibly Benjamin Hanby, m. James Lord Pierpont V - Jolly Old Saint Nicholas, Lean your ear this way; Don't you tell a single soul What I'm going to say, | PD Reprint | |
| Josephine, My Jo Popular Song |
1901 - m. James T. Brymn, w. Cecil Mack | PD Reprint | |
| Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho Spiritual |
1865 V - Hark! Listen to the trumpeters; They sound for volunteers. O'er Zion's bright and flowery mount, Behold the officers. C - O, joshua fought the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho . . . and the walls came tumbling down. | PD Reprint | |
| Joy to the World Christmas, Holiday |
1839 - m. Lowell Mason, adapted from Handel, w. Isaac Watts V - Joy to the world! the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing. | PD Reprint | |
| Juanita Traditional |
1850 V - Soft o'er the fountain, Ling'ring falls the southern moon; Faro'er the mountain, Breaks the day too soon! In they dark eye's slendor, Where the warm light loves to dwell | PD Reprint | |
| June Brought The Roses Popular Song |
1924 - w. Ralph Stanley m. John Openshaw | PD Reprint | |
| June Night Popular Song |
1924 - w. Cliff Friend m. Abel Baer | PD Reprint | |
| Just A Baby's Prayer At Twilight Popular Song |
1918 - m. M.K. Jerome, w. Sam Lewis, Joe Young | PD Reprint | |
| Just A Bird's Eye View Of My Old Kentucky Home Popular Song |
1926 - w. Gus Kahn, m. Walter Donaldson | PD Reprint | |
| Just A Cottage Small [By A Waterfall] Popular Song |
1925 - w. B.G. DeSylva, m. James F. Hanley | PD Reprint | |
| Just A Girl That Men Forget Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Al Dubin, Fred Rath, Joe Garron V - Dear little girl, they call you a Vamp, A flapper with up to date ways. You may shine brightly just like a lamp, You'll burn out one of these days. C - You're the kind of girl that men forget, Just a toy to enjoy for a while. For when men settle down they always get an old fashioned girl With an old fashioned smile. | PD Reprint | |
| Just A Little Drink Popular Song |
1925 - w.m. Byron Gay | PD Reprint | |
| Just A Song At Twilight | See Love's Old Sweet Song | ||
| Just Around The Corner Popular Song |
1925 - w. Dolph Singer, m. Harry Von Tilzer | PD Reprint | |
| Just Before the Battle, Mother Traditional |
1864 - George F. Root V - Just before the battle, mother, I am thinking most of you. While upon the field we're watching With the enemy in view. C - Farewell, mother, you may never Press me to your heart again, But, oh, you'll not forget me, mother, If I'm numbered with the slain. | PD Reprint | |
| Just We Two Popular Song |
1924 - w. Dorothy Donnelly m. Sigmund Romberg P - The Student Prince | PD Reprint | |
