The Heartbeat of America: Folk Music’s Past, Present, and Future

Folk music is the ever-changing and evolving heartbeat of many cultures and countries. Passed from generation to generation, folk music can be used to keep stories and traditions alive and thriving, even as music changes in the modern day. Many folk songs have been created sitting by a fire with only a guitar, sung to revitalize the spirit of the working people in small cultures and communities. While others have been sung worldwide to share a message that can resonate to all who listen, and spark a need for change. Although folk music is integral to many cultures, American Folk Music is one of the most influential artistic movements throughout the history of music and, has attributed to many great musicians and artists whose music can be felt through the heartbeat of each and every American. Musician Mike Seeger once famously commented that the definition of American folk music is "...all the music that fits between the cracks."

Roots In The Working Class

Almost every culture and country has its own folk music, but American Folk Music is of particular importance. Within the Americas, folk music was truly the first ever genre to materialize due to its simplicity and accessibility. It was the music of the common folk, to be played and heard by farmers, miners, cowboys, and many others. Under the umbrella of folk, you have genres such as Bluegrass, gospel, blues, Cajun, and many more. Folk also lent itself to the eventual creation and evolution of other musical genres, such as rock & roll, R&B, and jazz. Early folk music was solely played acoustically, with instruments such as guitar, banjo, fiddle, and maybe even the occasional harmonica. Sometimes, no instruments were used at all, and folk music solely relied on the power of the voices who sang them. Such songs include “Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie” -a cowboy folk song from the early 1900s, describing a dying cowboy in his last moments, or “The Ballad of John Henry”- a song about an African-American railroad worker and folk hero. There are thousands of songs in this genre, many of which have been lost to the winds of time, but through these songs, one can get a glimpse into American history and culture. Lyrics often offer a glimpse into the lives of everyday Americans–their perseverance, community, and resistance, and their lives within larger historical events such as the Great Depression, westward expansion, and the Industrial Revolution. A popular folk song describing settlers' journey across the Missouri River titled “Oh Shenandoah” has the following lyrics: “Oh Shenandoah/I long to hear you/Away, you rolling river/Oh Shenandoah/I long to hear you/away, we're bound away/Cross the wide Missouri.”

These songs are and can be cemented into history due to their accessibility as oral traditions passed from generation to generation. The communal nature of folk music, with its singalongs and open participation, fostered a sense of unity among diverse groups, making it an enduring force for social connection. Even today, the influence of American Folk Music is felt in modern songwriting and storytelling, proving that its legacy is as relevant as ever.

Folk Revival

Soon came the Great Depression, and the Dust Bowl, which suddenly made the American people poor and hungry, yet they were united as ever through their shared struggle and pain. In order to cope with this pain, workers gathered in churches, union halls, and even living rooms, and sang songs of their hardened work environments and homes. Thousands lost their jobs and scrambled from city to city, and during this time, Folk Music became mainstream entertainment among the American people. Jazz had set the stage for record labels all over the country, who now needed new talent and looked toward folk musicians. Many household folk names emerged from the woodwork, such as Burl Ives, Woody Guthrie, and Pete Seeger. All of whom captured the spirit of the American people into guitar, and now had a worldwide stage to share their music. Some wrote new songs about the trials of the Great Depression/Dust Bowl and American life, while others chose to continue sharing songs written many years ago. Either way, folk had a new stage and a new audience. Woody Guthrie is one of the most important folk writers of this era, and in his song “Ain't Got No Home,” he writes, “My brothers and my sisters are stranded on this road/A hot and dusty road that a million feet have trod/Rich man took my home and drove me from my door/And I ain't got no home in this world anymore.” Guthrie is able to create a story that any American can relate to in this time of hardship and, therefore continues the tradition of storytelling and community building through folk. The rise of radio also played a crucial role in folk music's growing popularity. For the first time, voices like Guthrie’s could reach listeners across the country. In this way, folk music connected communities and gave a sense of shared identity to people who were otherwise isolated by geography or economic hardship. As migrant workers traveled across the country in search of jobs, they brought their songs with them, blending regional styles and traditions into something uniquely American. This blending enriched the genre, allowing it to serve as both a historical record and a living art form that continues to reflect the heart of the nation.

Revolution Through Guitar

As we moved farther into the 20th century, America started to change, and many aspects of its society did not sit right with the American people. Folk evolved from hymns describing working life to instead being tools for social change in an ever-evolving society. As we fought for civil rights and sent our children to Vietnam, those who desired justice found it through folk music. One of the most famous folk musicians, Bob Dylan, wrote “The Ballad of Emmett Till,” detailing the unjustified lynching of young Emmett Till. Dylan writes, “If you can't speak out against this kind of thing, a crime that's so unjust/Your eyes are filled with dead men's dirt, your mind is filled with dust/Your arms and legs they must be in shackles and chains, and your blood it must refuse to flow/For you let this human race fall down so God-awful low!”. This is one of the many folk songs of this era that aims to bring awareness to the civil rights movement and its goal for African Americans. During the Vietnam War, folk music took on a powerful anti-war message, becoming the soundtrack of the counterculture movement. Protest songs like Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” and Phil Ochs’ “I Ain’t Marching Anymore” questioned the morality of war and resonated with a generation disillusioned by violence and political corruption. These songs not only criticized government policies but also expressed the fears and frustrations of young people facing the draft and the uncertainty of their future. Again, folk is the music of the people. As America grappled with issues of inequality, war, and human rights, folk music stood as a powerful reminder of the enduring spirit of resistance and the unyielding pursuit of justice.

Folk Goes Electric

Then came the electric guitar. Though it was invented in the 1930s, the use of the electric guitar did not get popularized until the 1950s and ’60s, and this posed a great threat to folk music and its future in the American music scene. Across the water, in London, bands like The Beatles and the Rolling Stones had become the mainstream, replacing folk in both the UK and in the Americas. They relied on much more traditional band structures, with guitar, bass, and drums. It was evident that American Folk was being pushed out by these modern bands and even folk musicians began the change to electric guitar. Bob Dylan famously began performing with a full band, though the message of his new music never seemed to stray from the original folk message. Dylan performed with his new rock band at the Newport Folk Festival and was met with mixed reactions, some appreciated the new sound, while others thought he was betraying his folk roots. Thus developed “Folk Rock,” which kept the relatability of folk music, while using more modern instrumentation. Folk Rock opened a new chapter for folk music, allowing it to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving music industry. Artists like The Byrds and Simon & Garfunkel blended electric sounds with meaningful, introspective lyrics, ensuring the core of folk’s storytelling tradition endured. This evolution didn’t mean the end of traditional folk but rather brought it to new heights. Traditionalists like Joan Baez and Pete Seeger continued to thrive, while newer acts found ways to innovate within the genre. Folk Rock’s popularity gave folk music a broader platform, ensuring its themes of justice, community, and authenticity could reach listeners across genres and generations. Ultimately, the emergence of the electric guitar was not the demise of folk music but a transformation that expanded its reach and influence.

Folks Future

“A folk song is what’s wrong and how to fix it, or it could be who’s hungry and where their mouth is, or who’s out of work and where the job is, or who’s broke and where the money is, or who’s carrying a gun and where the peace is.” –a quote from prominent folk musicians Woody Guthrie. Folk music is not just music but the story of the American people. Their triumphs and hardships, their love and hatred, their culture and spirit. Some might believe folk has faded to obscurity, but as long as people live, folk will, too. It lives within the heartbeat of every American and will continue to as long as we keep moving forward. As long as there are stories to tell and struggles to endure, folk music will find a way to be heard. It might take on new forms, blending with other genres, or emerge in unexpected places, but its essence will remain the same. Folk is the music of perseverance, a reminder that no matter how difficult the road, the human spirit is unyielding.