1923 Best Known Public Domain Songs List of 75
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 1929 or earlier. Our PD Sheet Music Reprints are exact reprints of books and sheet music published in 1929 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.
| 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-1930 PD sheet music publication in our library AND if anyone has asked about PD status of the song in the past 20 years. What Is A PD Download or Reprint? | |||
| Annabelle Popular Song |
1923 - m. Ray Henderson (1896 - 1970), w. Lew Brown (b. Russia, December 10, 1893; d. New York NY, February 5, 1958) V - Pretty Little Annabelle Liked a lot of beaus, And her sweetie Johnny Brown Wanted her to settle down, How he coaxes sweet Annabell, Goodness only knows. C - Oh! Annabelle, You've made a wild man out of me. Cause ev'ry day in ev'ry way, You get me jealous as can be. | ||
| Bambalina Popular Song |
1923 - m. Vincent Millie Youmans (1898 - 1946), Herbert P. Stothart (1885 - 1949), w. Otto Abels Harbach (1873 - 1963), Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein, II (1895-1960) P - Wildflower - 1923, Broadway V - Wilt thou come with me to the fair? Bambalina will be there. Who is Bambalina what sort of man is he? He's fiddler man by trade, Both beloved by man and maid. C - When we're dancing at the fair we have to watch and keep aware, When good ol Bambalina calls a stop; That means I must stand still in your arms and hold your hand still. | ||
| Barney Google Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Con Conrad (1891-1938), Billy Rose (1899-1966) V - Who's the most important man this country ever knew. Who's the man our Presidents tell all their troubles to. C - Barney Google with his Goo Goo Googlyeyes. Barney Google had a wife three times his size. She sued Barney for divorce, Now he's living with his horse. | ||
| Beside A Babbling Brook Popular Song |
1923 - m. Walter Donaldson (1893-1947), w. Gus Kahn (1886-1941) V - When I was younger I used to hunger to climb up the ladder of life. Now that I've grown up I might as well own up it's not worth the worry and strife. C - I'd be more than satisfied if I could hide away beside a babbling brook Rippling waters call me far away to a quiet shady nook. | ||
| Broken Hearted Melody Popular Song |
1923 - m. Isham Edgar Jones (1894-1956), w. Gus Kahn (1886-1941) V - Out of the dear long ago, I hear a song sweet and low. Drifting it seems, out of the dreams, Dreams that we used to know, dear. C - Just a broken hearted melody, Just a song that ends with a sigh. Like the sweet refrain you sang to me on the night we said good-bye, Dear. | ||
| Charleston Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Cecil Mack (1873-1944), James P. (Jimmy) Johnson (1894 - 1955) P - Runnin' Wild - 1923, Broadway V - Carolina, Carolina, At last they're got you on the map, With a new tune, Funny blue tune, With a peculiar snap! C - Charleston! Charleston! Made in Carolina, Some dance, Some pruacm I'll say, There's nothing finer than the Charleston, Charleston | ||
| Come On Spark Plug Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Billy Rose (1899-1966), Con Conrad (1891-1938) V - The horses at the post! They're off and running neck and neck. Ev'ry one's a nervous wreck! Who's showing all that speed? What's that blanket that I see; Who else could it be. C - Come on you Spark Plug. I'm praying 'whoa! giddy-ap, giddy-ap, don't lose. Baby needs a pair of shoes.' | ||
| Covered Wagon Days Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Will Morrissey (1887-1957), Joe Burrowes P - Covered Wagon - 1923, Silent Movie V - In the days of 'forty-nine', There was no one who'd decline, The call out West where all the best of fortune seemed to shine. C - Old covered wagon days. Gold draggin' in their ways. Your deeds in history play Parts that grip the hearts of our nation. | ||
| Dirty Hands! Dirty Face! Popular Song |
1923 - m. James Vincent Monaco (1885-1945), w. Al Jolson (1886-1950), Grant Clarke & Edgar Leslie P - Bombo - 1921, Broadway Musical V - Wonderful pals are always hard to find, Some folks have one, Some folks have none. I was alone for years, but fate was kind And in the end, Sent me a friend. C - Dirty Hands, Dirty face, leads the neighbors a chase but his smile, is as cute as can be. Making noise, breaking toys, always fights with the boys | ||
| Dizzy Fingers Popular Song |
1923 - m. Zez Confrey (1895-1971) | ||
| Down Hearted Blues Popular Song |
1923 - m. Lovie Austin, w. Alberta Hunter V - Gee! but its hard to love someone When that someone don't love you. I'm so disgusted, heart broken too, I've got the down hearted blues. C - Cause he mistreated me and he drove me from his door . . . But the good book say you'll reap just what you sow. | ||
| Faded Love Letters Popular Song |
1923 - m. Luella Lockwood Moore (1864-1927), William E. Dulmage (1883-1953), w. Richard W. Pascoe (1888-1968) V - When all the world seems so merry and bright, I'm dreaming of days past recall, Wond'ring if someone can see me tonight, As the tears from my eyes gently fall. C - Faded old love letters, They mean the world to me, Each night I read them over, They are my rosary. | ||
| Farewell Blues Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Rappolo ~ Leon Rappolo V - Sadness just makes me sigh. I've come to say goodbye. Altho I go I've got those farewell blues. C - Those farewell blues make me years That parting kiss seems to burn. Farewell dearie Some day I will return.. | ||
| Grandpa's Spells Popular Song |
1923 - m. Ferdinand 'Jelly Roll' Morton (1891-1941) | ||
| Gulf Coast Blues Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Clarence Williams V - I've been blue all day. My man's gone away. He left his mamma cold. For another gal I'm told. C - Man that I love he has left me in this town. The man I love has gone, left me in this town. And if it keeps on snowing I will be Gulf Coast bound. | ||
| Home in Pasadena Popular Song |
1923 - m. Harry Warren, w. Grant Clarke, Edgar Leslie V - Oh! You railway station. Oh! You pullman train! Here's my reservation For my destination Far beyond the western plain. C - Home in Pasadena, Home where grass is greener. Where honey bees hum melodies And orange tress scent the breeze. | ||
| Horsey Keep Your Tail Up Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Walter Hirsch, Bert Kaplan V - Reuben is so silly. He will never wear a hat. Tho' the sun is shining, He don't give a darn for that. C - Oh, Horsey! keep yer tail up . . . Why don't you make it rise? Tell me how you get that way, You mean 'Yes' and say 'Neigh, neigh' | ||
| I Cried For You Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Arthur Free, Gus Anaheim, Abe Lyman V - I remember other days how I used to weep Over things yhou said to me I couldn't even sleep. You forgot your promises ev'ry single vow. All you did was laugh at me but things are diff'rent now. C - I cried for you, Now it's your turn to cry over me. Ev'ry road has a turning That's one thing you're learning, I cried for you, What a fool I used to be. | ||
| I Love Life Popular Song |
1923 - m. Mana-Zucca, w. Irwin M. Cassel V - I want to live and drink of life's fullness, Take all it can give; I love life, Ev'ry moment count To glory in its sunshine And revel in its fount. | ||
| I Love You - Je T'aime! Popular Song |
1923 - m. Harry Archer, w. English: Harlan Thompson, French: Paul Combis P - Little Jessie James - 1923, Broadway V - Lovers always sing The same familiar thing, 'I love you', I love you, I do.' How nice it would be To do it deff'rently, But now that I'm singing to you: C - 'I love you, I love you', is all that I can say. 'I love you, I love you', the same old words I'm saying in the same old way. | ||
| I Won't Say I Will But I Won't Say I Won't Popular Song |
1923 - m. George Gershwin, w. B.G. De Sylva, Arthur Francis P - Little Miss Bluebeard - 1923, Broadway 1923-1924 V - You're a very naughty boy when you ask me for a kiss, I'm dismayed, A little bit afraid. C - I Won't Say I Will But I Won't Say I Won't! I don't say I doi but I don't say I don't! Kissing of any kind Never was on my mind. | ||
| I'm Goin' South Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Abner Silver, Harry Woods P - Bombo - 1921, Broadway Musical V - It's just an old time story, One that you've heard before, I left my mammy's fond caress To search the world for happiness. C - Yes, sir! I'm goin' South, Taste the sugar cane right in my mouth, All the world is sweet away down South Where I spent my happy days. | ||
| I'm Sitting Pretty In A Pretty Little City Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Lou Davis, Henry Santly & Abel Baer V - There's no place like home, you never learn that til you roam. Ev'ry place I'd be that little home kept callin' me C - I'm sittin' pretty in a pretty little city down Georgia way. There are no angels near, But it seems like heaven here. | ||
| I've Got the Yes We Have No Bananas Blues Popular Song |
1923 - w. Lew Brown, m. James F. Hanley, Robert King V - Lately I've been off my nut. I keep hearing nothing but 'YES! We have no bananas'. And I'd like to find the guy Who composed that lullaby C - I've got the 'YES!' We have no banana blues. I've got the blues. And when I hear it, Oh! how I fear it.; It's just like hearing bad news. | ||
| Indiana Moon Popular Song |
1923 - w. Benny Davis, m. Isham Jones V - Indiana Moon for you I'm pining. Pining ever since I went away. Pretty soon I'm gonna se you shining, For I'm going home today. C - Indiana Moon I miss you. Indiana Moon I'm blue. There's somebody there I long to kiss too, With a heart of love that's ever | ||
| It Ain't Gonna Rain No Mo' Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Wendell Hall V - Oh! The night was dark and dreary, The air was full of sleet, The old man stood out in the storm, his shoes were full of feet. C - Oh! It ain't gonna rain no mo' no mo'. It ain't gonna rain no mo'. But how in the world can the old folks tell, It ain't a-gonna rain no mo'. | ||
| 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. | ||
| Kansas City Stomp Popular Song |
1923 - Ferdinand 'Jelly Roll' Morton (1890-1941) | ||
| La Rosita Popular Song |
1923 - w. Allan Stuart m. Paul Dupont (Pseud. of Walter Haenschen) V - Tinkling guitar strums a song 'neath a balcony. Glimmering stars glean their silvery light. Slowly the moon rises high o'er the peaceful lea. C - Sweet girl of my dreams hear my song I implore you, Soul of my soul, hear my gay serenade. Deep in my heart I will always adore you. | ||
| Last Night on the Back Porch Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Lew Brown, Carl Schraubstader V - There's a girl I'm wild about Ev'ry time I take her out. I hug her . I squeeze her, I tease her so. And we always can be found Where there's no on else around. C - I love her in the morning. And I lover her at night. I love her, yes, I lover her When the stars are shining bright. | ||
| Linger Awhile Popular Song |
1923 - w. Harry Owens m. Vincent Rose V - The time is coming soon to say good bye, A time of sadness it will be. But Honey listen to my parting sigh, And linger on a while with me. C - The stars shine above you. Yet linger a while' They whisper 'I love you' So linger awhile. | ||
| Louisville Lou Popular Song |
1923 - w. Jack Yellen m. Milton Ager V - Folks, you've heard of scandalous vamps; History is full of love makin' champs. But if you crave a brand new thrill Come and meet the vamp of Louisville. C - They call the lady Louisville Lou. Oh, what that vampin' baby can do! She is the most heart breakin'est shimmy shakin'est That the world ever knew. | ||
| Mama Goes Where Papa Goes Popular Song |
1923 - w. Jack Yellen m. Milton Ager | ||
| Mama Loves Papa Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Cliff Friend & Abel Baer | ||
| Mexicali Rose Popular Song |
1923 - w. Helen Stone, m. Jack B. Tenney V - Mexicali Rose, I'm leaving. Don't feel blue. Mexicali Rose, stop grieving; I love you. C - Mexicali Rose, stop crying; I'll come back to you some sunny day. Ev'ry night you'll know that I'll be pining, Ev'ry hour a year while I'm away. | ||
| Mon Paradis (Serenade d'Aujourd'hui) Popular Song |
1923 - m. Cuthbert Clarke | ||
| Moon Love Popular Song |
1923 - m. Jerome Kern, w. George Grossmith, Jr., P. G. Wodehouse P - The Beauty Prize | ||
| Mr. Jelly-Lord Popular Song |
1923 - Ferdinand 'Jelly Roll' Morton (1890-1941) | ||
| My Little Nest Of Heavenly Blue Popular Song |
1926 - w. A.M. Wilner, Heinz Reichert, Sigmund Spaeth, m. Franz Lehar | ||
| My Sweetie Went Away Popular Song |
1923 - w. Roy Turk m. Lou Handman | ||
| No, No, Nora Popular Song |
1923 - w. Gus Kahn | ||
| Oh Didn't It Rain Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Eddie Leonard V - We came from far away Upon a summer's day, Didn't it Rain. We went to the Polo Grounds To see a baseball game. Didn't it rain. C - Because it Rained. Didn't it rain. The way it rained it was a shame, We'll never go there again, Because it rained. | ||
| Oh Gee Oh Gosh Oh Golly I'm In Love Popular Song |
1923 - w. Ole Olson, Chick Johnson, m. Ernest Breuer | ||
| Old Fashioned Love Popular Song |
1923 - w. Cecil Mack m. James P. Johnson | ||
| Old King Tut Popular Song |
1923 - w. William Jerome m. Harry Von Tilzer | ||
| On The Mall Popular Song |
1923 - m. Edwin Franko Goldman | ||
| Once In A Blue Moon Popular Song |
1923 - w. Anne Caldwell m. Jerome Kern | ||
| Orange Grove In California Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Irving Berlin (1888-1989) | ||
| Out Where The Blue Begins Popular Song |
1923 - Graff, McHugh, Grant | ||
| Pearls Popular Song |
1923 - Ferdinand 'Jelly Roll' Morton (1890-1941) | ||
| Raggedy Ann Popular Song |
1923 - w. Anne Caldwell m. Jerome Kern | ||
| Rememb'ring Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Vivian Duncan & Rosetta Duncan | ||
| Seven Or Eleven Popular Song |
1923 - w. Lew Brown m. Walter Donaldson | ||
| Sittin' In A Corner Popular Song |
1923 - w. Gus Kahn m. George W. Meyer | ||
| Sleep Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Earl Lebieg | ||
| Smile Will Go A Long Long Way Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Benny Davis, Harry Akst | ||
| Sobbin' Blues Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Art Kassel | ||
| Some Sweet Day Popular Song |
1923 - w. Gene Buck m. Dave Stamper & Louis A. Hirsch V - Ever since I've been here I've been kind of lonely, Every little dear leaves me by my only. But I just feel that some sweet day I'll meet a girl that likes my way. C - Some sweet day some cutie'll Come my way, some beauty, And she may lead me astray. | ||
| Stella Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Al Jolson, Benny Davis & Harry Akst | ||
| Swingin' Down the Lane Popular Song |
1923 - w. Gus Kahn m. Isham Jones V - There's a nightingale callin'; Out where moonbeams are fallin', He's makin' love to a red, red rose C - Ev'rybody hand in hand, Swingin' down the lane, Ev'rebody feelin' grand, Swingin' down the lane. | ||
| Tell Me With A Melody Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Irving Berlin (1888 - 1989) | ||
| That Old Gang of Mine Popular Song |
1923 - w. Billy Rose & Mort Dixon m. Ray Henderson V - I've got a longin' way down in my heart. For that old gang that has drifted apart. They were the best pals that I ever had, I never thought I'd want them so bad. C - Gee, but I'd give the world to see that old gang of mine. I can't forget than old quartette that sand 'Swet Adeline'. | ||
| Tin Roof Blues Popular Song |
1923 - w. Walter Melrose, m. New Orleans Rhythm Kings | ||
| Waitin' For The Evenin' Mail Popular Song |
1923 - Billy Baskette | ||
| When Clouds Have Vanished And Skies Are Blue Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. George M. Cohan (1878 - 1942) P - The Rise of Rosy O'Reilly | ||
| When It's Night Time In Italy, It's Wednesday Over Here Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. James Kendis, Lew Brown | ||
| When June Comes Along With A Song Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. George M. Cohan (1878-1942) | ||
| When You Walked Out Someone Else Walked Right In Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Irving Berlin (1888 - 1989) V - My honey do you remember 'twas a December day, I said that you would repent the day that you went away. C - When you walked out someone else walked right in. Someone with good news stepped right in your shoes. | ||
| Who'll Buy My Violets Popular Song |
1923 - w. E. Ray Goetz m. Jose Padilla | ||
| Who's Sorry Now? Popular Song |
1923 - w. Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby, m. Ted Snyder P - A Night In Casablanca - The Marx Brothers V - You smiled when we parted, It hurt me somehow, I thought there were was nothing worthwhile. The tables are turning And you're crying now C - Who's sorry now? . . .Whose heart is aching for breaking each vow? Who's sad and blue? Who's crying too? Just like I cried over you. | ||
| Wild Flower Popular Song |
1923 - w. Otto Harbach & Oscar Hammerstein II m. Vincent Youmans & Herbert Stothar | ||
| Wolverine Blues Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Ferdinand Jelly Roll Morton, Benjamin Spikes & John C. Spikes | ||
| Yes! We Have No Bananas Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Frank Silver & Irving Cohn V - There's a fruit store on out street. It's run by a Greek. And he keeps good thing to eat. But you should hear him speak. C - YES! We have no bananas. We have no bananas today. We've string beans and HONions, cabBAHges and scallions And all kind of fruit and say | ||
| You'll Never Miss Your Mother Until She's Gone Popular Song |
1923 - Sung by Ethel Waters | ||
| You've Got To See Mama Ev'ry Night Popular Song |
1923 - w.m. Con Conrad & Billy Rose | ||
