folk song

American  

noun

folk songs plural

1. a song originating among the people of a country or area, passed by oral tradition from one singer or generation to the next, often existing in several versions, and marked generally by simple, modal melody and stanzaic, narrative verse.

2. a song of similar character written by a known composer.

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folk song British  

noun

1. a song of which the music and text have been handed down by oral tradition among the common people

2. a modern song which employs or reflects the folk idiom

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• folk songs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of folk song

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

folk song

“De Colores” is a traditional Mexican folk song that made its way to the Americas from Spain during the 16th century, and here Price is accompanied by the Memphis Mariachi.

From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2026

Their comback album, Arirang, is a celebration of their roots - named after a traditional Korean folk song, which is sampled in the opening track Body to Body.

From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026

Beginning with "Body to Body" and ending with "Into the Sun", the 14-track "ARIRANG" album takes its name from a folk song about longing and separation that is often dubbed South Korea's unofficial national anthem.

From Barron's ● Mar. 20, 2026

It might be time to write a folk song about the demise of City Section basketball using the music of Peter, Paul and Mary and the new title, “Where Have All the Players Gone?”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 4, 2026

These days, guitarists who want to play a well-known pop or folk song can do so simply by reading a chart with the names of the chords.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall