DBest Known Public Domain SongsD List of 144
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.
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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-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? | |||
| Dabbling in the Dew Traditional |
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| Daddy Has A Sweetheart And Mother Is Her Name Popular Song |
1912 - m. Dave Stamper, w. Gene Buck V - Daddy's is love with a dear lady fair, I've been watching him day by day. He calls here his sweetheart and jewel so rare, She smiles in her loving way. C - Daddy has a sweetheart And he's head and heels in love, I have often watched him kiss her While the moon peeped from above | ||
| Daddy Wouldn't Buy Me a Bow-Wow Traditional |
1892 - w.m. Joseph Tabrar | ||
| Daisy Bell Popular Song |
1892 - w.m. Henry Dacre C - Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer true. I'm half crazy over the love of you. It won't be a stylish marriage, 'Cause I can't afford a carriage . . . N - a.k.a. Bicycle Built For Two | ||
| Dance Macabre Traditional |
1872 - Saint Saens | ||
| Dance of the Hours Traditional |
1876 - Ponchielle | ||
| Dance of the Snowflakes Popular Song |
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| Dancing Tambourine Popular Song |
1927 - w. Phil Ponce, m. W.C. Polla | ||
| Daniel Saw the Stone Spiritual |
V - Never saw such a man before, Cut out the mountain without hands. Preaching gospel to the poor, C - Daniel saw the stone, Rolling, rolling, Daniel saw the stone Cut out the mountain without hands. | ||
| Danish National Hymn Traditional |
Erald | ||
| Danny Boy Popular Song |
1913 - m. Old Irish Air, w. Fred E. Weatherly V - Oh, Danny Boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling From glen to glen, and down the mountain side. The summer's gone, and all the roses falling, It's you, it's you must go, and I must abide. | ||
| Danny Deever Traditional |
1897 | ||
| Dapper Dan Popular Song |
1921 - m. Albert Von Tilzer, w. Lew Brown | ||
| Dardanella Popular Song |
1919 - m. Felix Bernard, Johnny S. Black, w. Fred Fisher | ||
| Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze | See The Flying Trapeze | ||
| Darktown Dancin' School Popular Song |
m. Albert Gumble, w. Jack Yellen | ||
| Darktown Strutters' Ball Popular Song |
1917 - w.m. Shelton Brooks | ||
| Darling Nellie Gray Popular Song |
1856 - w.m. B. R. Hanby V - There's a low green valley on the old Kentucky shore Where we whil'd many happy hours away; A-sitting and singing by the little cottage door Where dwelt my lovely Nellie Gray. C - Oh, my poor Nelly Gray, they have taken you away, And I'll never see my darling any more; I am sitting by the river and I'm weeping all the day, For you've gone from the old Kentucky shore. | ||
| Das zerbrochene Ringlein Traditional |
w.1809,m.1 - w. Joseph von Eichendorff, m. Friedrich Gluck | ||
| Dashing White Sergeant Traditional |
Traditional Scots | ||
| Dat's The Way To Spell Chicken Popular Song |
1902 - w.m. Bob Slater, Sidney Perrin | ||
| Daughter of Rosie O'Grady Popular Song |
1918 - m. Walter Donaldson, w. Monty C. Brice | ||
| David of the White Rock Traditional |
Traditional Welsh | ||
| Dawn Of The Century March Popular Song |
1900 - m. E.T. Paull | ||
| Day Dreams, Visions Of Bliss Popular Song |
1910 - m. Heinrich Reinhardt, w. Robert B. Smith P - Spring Maid - 1910, Viennese Operetta | ||
| Dead Man Blues Popular Song |
1926 - m. Ferd 'Jelly Roll' Morton | ||
| Dear Evelina, Sweet Evelina Traditional |
V - Way down in the meadow where the lily first first blows, Where the wind from the valley ne'er ruffles the rose. C - Dear Evelina, Sweet Evelina, My love for thee shall never, never die. | ||
| Dear Little Boy of Mine Popular Song |
1918 - m. Ernest Ball, w. J. Keirn Brennan | ||
| Dear Old Girl Popular Song |
1903 - m. Theodore F. Moss, w. Rich H. Buck | ||
| Dear Old Pal of Mine Popular Song |
1918 - m. Lt. Gitz Rice, w. Harold Robe | ||
| Dear Old Southland Popular Song |
1921 - m. Turner Layton, w. Henry Creamer | ||
| Dearest Mae Minstrel |
m. L.H.V. Crosby, w. Frances Lynch | ||
| Dearest, You're the Nearest to My Heart Popular Song |
1922 - m. Harry Akst, w. Benny Davis | ||
| Death and Transfiguration Traditional |
1891 - Richard Strauss | ||
| Death's Going to Lay His Hand on Me Spiritual |
V - O sinner! Sinner! you better pray! Death's goning to lay his cold icy hands on me! C - Crying, O Lord, crying, O My Lord! N - a.k.a. Cold Icy Hand | ||
| Deck the Halls Christmas, Holiday |
1800s - w. translated Oliphant 1866, m. Welsh Nos Galan V - Deck the hall with boughs of holly, Fa la la la la la la la la. 'Tis the season to be jolly, Fa la la la la la la la la. Don we now our gay apparel, Troll the ancient Christmas carol, C - Fa la la la la la la la la. | ||
| Deep In My Heart Dear Popular Song |
1924 - w. Dorothy Donnelly, m. Sigmund Romberg | ||
| Deep River Spiritual |
1875 V - Oh, don't you want to go to that gospel feast, That promis'd land where all is peace? C - Deep river, my home is over Jordon. Deep river, Lord, I want to cross over into campground. | ||
| Der Deitcher's Dog Traditional |
N - German: How Much Is the Doggie in the Window | ||
| Der gute Kamerad Traditional |
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| Der Jager Abschied Traditional |
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| Der Konig in Thule Traditional |
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| Der Lindenbaum Traditional |
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| Der Mai is gekommen Traditional |
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| Der Steer Land Traditional |
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| Der Wotin Tochterlein Traditional |
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| Dese Dry Bones of Mine Spiritual |
V - What kind of shoes is dem you wear? Come togedder in de mawnin' C - An' a Lawd, dese dry bones of mine Shall come togedder in the mawnin' | ||
| Desert Song Popular Song |
1926 - w. Otto Harbach, Oscar Hammerstein II, Frank Mandel, m. Sigmund Romberg | ||
| Destiny Waltz Popular Song |
m. Sydney Banes | ||
| Deutschland Uber Alles Traditional |
m. Franz Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1791)w. August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben V - Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit Fur das deutsche Vaterland! Danach lasst uns alle streben Bruderlich mit Herz and Hand! C - Unity and justice and freedom For the German fatherland! Towards these let us all strive Brotherly with heart and hard! N - German National Anthem. Tune best known in USA as hymn: Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken After the end of WWII only the third verse as shown above is used. | ||
| Devil Among the Tailors Traditional |
Traditional Scots | ||
| Devil's Dream Traditional |
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| Diane Popular Song |
1928 - w.m. Erno Rapee & Lew Pollack | ||
| Dickory Dickory Dock Children |
V - Dickory, dickory dock; The mouse ran up the clock. The clock struck one, The mouse ran down . . . | ||
| Did you Ever See a Lassie Traditional |
V - Did you ever see a lassie, a lassie, a lassie. Did you ever see a lassie do this way and that. | ||
| Did You Hear How Dey Crucified My Lord? Spiritual |
V - Did you hear how dey crucified my Lord . . . Did you hear how He hung on de cross? C - Oh, how it makes me tremble, tremble | ||
| Did You Mean It Popular Song |
1927 - w.m. Phil Baker, Sid Silvers, Abe Lyman | ||
| Did You Mean It? Popular Song |
1928 - w.m. Phil Baker, Sid Silvers, Abe Lyman | ||
| Diddle Diddle Dumpling Children |
V - Diddle, diddle dumpling, my son John Went to bed with his stockings on; | ||
| Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel? Spiritual |
V - He deliver'd Daniel from de lion's den, Jonah from de belly of de whale, An' de Hebrew children from the fiery furnace C - Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel; d'liver Daniel, d'liver Daniel, An' why not every man? | ||
| Die Gedanken Sind Frei Traditional |
V - Die Gedanken sind frei, wer kann sie erraten, sie fliegen vorbei wie nächtliche Schatten. Kein Mensch kann sie wissen, kein Jäger erschießen mit Pulver und Blei: Die Gedanken sind frei! N - Thoughts are free. Melody and German lyrics are PD worldwide. But any English translation made after 1922 is almost certainly under copyright protection. | ||
| Die Heilige Nacht Traditional |
1818 - w. J. Mohn, w. F. Gruber | ||
| Die Lore am Tore Carey-Boie Traditional |
1798 P - Sally in our Alley | ||
| Die Lorelei Traditional |
w. 1823, m - w. Heinrich Heine, m. Frederich Silcher | ||
| Die Teutoburger Schlacht Traditional |
1847 - V. von Scheffel | ||
| Die Wacht am Rhein Traditional |
w. Max Schneckenburger, m. Karl Wilhelm | ||
| Diga-Diga-Do Popular Song |
1928 - w. Dorothy Fields, m. Jimmy McHugh | ||
| Dill Pickles Traditional |
1906 - Charles L. Johnson | ||
| Dinah Popular Song |
1925 - w. Same Lewis, Joe Young, m. Harry Akst | ||
| Ding Dong Bell Children |
1765 V - Ding Dong bell, Pussy's in the well; Who put here in? Little Johnny Green; Who pulled her out? Big John Stout. | ||
| Diplomat Patriotic |
1904 - m. John Philip Sousa | ||
| Directorate Patriotic |
w.m. John Philip Sousa | ||
| 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 | ||
| Dixie Blossoms Ragtime, Music Hall |
1906 - Percy Weinrich | ||
| Dixie Dimples Ragtime, Music Hall |
1918 - James Scott N - Novelty Rag Fox Trot | ||
| Dixie Girl Traditional |
J. Bodewalt Lampe | ||
| Dixie Made Us Jazz Band Mad Popular Song |
1920 - w.m. Howard Johnson, William K. Wells, Irwin Dash | ||
| Dixie Volunteers Popular Song |
w.m. Edgar Leslie, Harry Ruby | ||
| Dixie's Land Traditional |
1860 - Daniel Decatur Emmett V - I wish I was in de land ob cotton, Old time dar am not forgotten C - Away, away, away down south in Dixie N - a.k.a. Dixie Land | ||
| Dizzy Fingers Popular Song |
1923 - m. Zez Confrey (1895-1971) | ||
| Do Do Do Popular Song |
1926 - w. Ira Gershwin, m. George Gershwin | ||
| Do It Again (Please Do It Again) Popular Song |
1922 - m. George Gershwin, w. B.G. De Sylva P - French Doll - 1922, Musical V - Tell me, tell me, what did you do to me? I just got a thrill that was new to me C - Oh, do it again! I might say no no no no no, but do it again | ||
| Doc Brown's Cake Walk Traditional |
Charles L. Johnson | ||
| Does the Spearmint Lose Its Flavor Popular Song |
1924 - w. Billy Rose, Marty Bloom, m. Ernest Breuer P - The Student Prince | ||
| Doin' The New Low Down Popular Song |
1928 - w. Dorothy Fields, m. Jimmy McHugh | ||
| Doin' The Racoon Popular Song |
1928 - w. Raymond Klages, m. J. Fred Coots | ||
| Doll Dance Popular Song |
1926 - m. Nacio Herb Brown | ||
| Don't Be Like That Popular Song |
1928 - w.m. Archie Gottler, Charles Tobias, Maceo Pinkard | ||
| Don't Be Weary, Traveler Traditional |
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| Don't Be Weary, Traveller Spiritual |
V - My head got wet with the midnight dew, Come along home to Jesus. Angels bear me witness too, Come along home to Jesus. C - Don't be weary, traveller, Come along home to Jesus. | ||
| Don't Bite The Hand That's Feeding You Popular Song |
1915 - m. James Morgan, w. Thomas Hoier | ||
| Don't Blame It On Broadway Popular Song |
1913 - m. Bert Grant, w. Joe Young, Harry Williams | ||
| Don't Bring Lulu Popular Song |
1925 | ||
| Don't Get Married Any More, Ma Popular Song |
1907 - m. Henry E. Pether, w. Fred W. Leigh | ||
| Don't Hold Everything Popular Song |
1928 - w.m. Bud DeSylva, Lew Brown, Ray Henderson | ||
| Don't Jazz Me Rag Ragtime, Music Hall |
James Scott | ||
| Don't Mind the Rain Popular Song |
1924 - w.m. Chester Conn, Ned Miller | ||
| Don't Take Me Home Popular Song |
1908 - m. Harry Von Tilzer, w. Vincent Bryan | ||
| Don't Wake Me Up [Let Me Dream] Popular Song |
1926 - w. L. Wolfe Gilbert, m. Mable Wayne, Abel Baer | ||
| Doo Wacka Doo Popular Song |
1924 - w.m. Clarence Gaskill, Walter Donaldson, George Horther V - Billy McCoy was a boy who could play, you bet, Oh, how they swaged when he played on his old cornet. He's got a smile and a cute little style that's all his own. C - Doo Wack-a Doo, wack-a-doo, wack-a doo, Nothing to it but it's sweet, That tune goes right to your feet. | ||
| Doodle Doo Doo Popular Song |
1924 - w.m. Art Kassel, Mel Stitzel | ||
| Dove's Figary Traditional |
1650 | ||
| Down Among the Sheltering Palms Popular Song |
1915 - m. Abe Olman, w. James Brockman | ||
| Down Among The Sugar Cane Popular Song |
1908 - m. Cecil Mack, Chris Smith, w. Avery & Hart | ||
| Down By the Old Mill Stream Popular Song |
1910 - w.m. Tell Taylor | ||
| Down By the Riverside Spiritual |
1865 V - Goin' t' lay down my burden, Down by the riverside . . Goin' to study war no more. C - Ain't goin't study war no more, Ain't goin't study war no more, | ||
| Down By The Winegar Woiks Popular Song |
1926 - w.m. Don Bestor, Roger Lewis, Walter Donovan | ||
| 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. | ||
| Down Home Blues Traditional |
1921 - Tom Delaney V - I never felt so lonesome before, My friend has quit me. He's gone for sure. He broke my heart for I loved him true so now I'm worried Lonesome and blue C - Woke up this mornin' the day was dawnin' And I was feelin' all sad and blue. I had nobody to tell my troubles to. I felt so worried I didn't know what to do. | ||
| Down In Dear Old New Orleans Popular Song |
1912 - m. Con Conrad, Jay Whidden, w. Joe Young | ||
| Down in Honky Tonky Town Popular Song |
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| Down In Jungle Town Popular Song |
1908 - m. Theodore F. Morse, w. Edward Madden | ||
| Down in the Valley Traditional |
N - No known exact PD publication. PD words published 1917 by Journal of American Folk-Lore. 1917 publication of melody is not precisely the melody poplar today. | ||
| Down In The Valley (Birmingham Jail) Popular Song |
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| Down in the Valley to Pray Spiritual |
V - O brother, less go down . . . Down in the valley to pray! C - I went down in the valley to pray, Studyin' about dat good ole way. You shall wear a starry crown, Good Lord, show me de way! | ||
| Down On The Brandywind Popular Song |
1904 - m. James B. Mullen, w. Vincent Bryan | ||
| Down on the Farm | See I Want To Go Back To Michigan (Down On The Farm) | ||
| Down the Trail to Home Sweet Home Popular Song |
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| Down the Volga River Traditional |
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| Down Went McGinty Popular Song |
1889 - w.m. Joseph Flynn V - Sunday morning just at nine, Dan McGinty dress'd so fine. Stood looking up at a very high stone wall; C - Down went McGinty to the bottom of the wall. And tho' he won the five, He was more dead than alive. | ||
| Down Where the Wurzburger Flows Popular Song |
1902 - m. Harry Von Tilzer, w. Vincent Bryan | ||
| Down Yonder Popular Song |
1921 - w.m. L. Wolfe Gilbert V - Railroad train, Railroad train, Hurry some more. Put a little steam on, just like never before. C - Down yonder someone beckons to me, Down yonder someone reckons on me. I seem to see a race in memory. Between the Natchez and the Robert E. Lee. | ||
| Draper's Gardens Traditional |
1721 | ||
| Dream Girl Popular Song |
1924 - w. Rida Johnson Young m. Victor Herbert P - The Dream Girl N - a.k.a. My Dream Girl | ||
| Dream House Popular Song |
1928 - w. Earle Foxe, m. Lynn F. Cowan | ||
| Dreaming Popular Song |
1906 - m. J. Anton Daily, w. L.W. Heiser | ||
| Dreams Popular Song |
m. Harry Von Tilzer (1872-1946)w. Andrew B. Sterling | ||
| Dressed Ship Traditional |
1774 | ||
| Drifting And Dreaming Popular Song |
1926 - w. Haven Gillespie, m. Egbert Van Alstyne, Erwin R. Schmidt, Loyal Curtis | ||
| Drill Ye, Tarriers, Drill Popular Song |
1888 - w.m. Thomas F. Caset V - Oh ev'ry morn at seven o'clock There are twenty tarriers on the rock, The boss come along and says 'be still And put all your power in the cast steel drill'. C - Then, drill, ye tarriers, drill . . . Oh it's work all day without sugar in your tay when ye work beyant on the railway, And drill, ye tarriers, drill. and drill, and drill! | ||
| Drink Drink Drink (Student Prince) Popular Song |
1924 - W. Donothy Donnelly, m. Sigmund Romberg P - The Student Prince | ||
| Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes Traditional |
w. 1616, m | ||
| Drive the Cold Winter Away Traditional |
1650 | ||
| Drummer Boy of Shiloh Traditional |
1863 - Hays | ||
| Drunken Sailor Folk Song |
1891 - Sea Shanty V - What shall we do with the drunken sailor, What shall we do with the drunken sailor, Early in the morning. C - Hooray and up she rises, Hooray and up she rises, Hooray and up she rises, Early in the morning | ||
| Dry Bones Spiritual |
1865 V - Some go ter meetin' fer to sing an' shout, Dry bones gwine er rise ergin; 'Fore six months dey's all turned out, Dry bones gwine er rise ergin. C - O little child'un! O little child'un! O little child'un! Dry bones gwine er rise ergin. N - Our PD source has lyrics only, no music, for this song. | ||
| Du bist vie eine Blume Traditional |
1823 - w. Heinrich Heine, m. Schumann | ||
| Du du liegst mir im Herzen Traditional |
1820 - German Folk Song V - Du, du liegst mir im Herzen, du, du liegst mir im Sinn; du, du machst mir viel Schmerzen, weisst nicht, wie gut ich dir bin; | ||
| Du und Du Traditional |
1874 | ||
| Dubinushka Traditional |
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| Duke of Kent's Waltz Traditional |
1802 | ||
| Dusky Dudes Traditional |
Jean Schwartz | ||
| Dusky Stevedore Popular Song |
1928 - w. Andy Razaf, m. J.C. Johnson | ||
| Dusty Ragtime, Music Hall |
1908 - May Aufderheide | ||
