Who Wrote Them? Nobody Knows: 3 Folk Songs With Unknown Authors

Out of any genre of music, folk music certainly has the most lore and mystique. While popular, it has always remained in the shadows and kept listeners asking questions for which they have never gotten the answers to. Frankly, that is one of the many reasons it is so appealing, as its romantic mystery has enticed the masses for generations and generations.

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With all that in mind, folk music has never focused on garnering limelight and notoriety. Rather, its main aim is to create quality and nuanced music. Hence, paying credit to the original authors of storied songs is seemingly not a top priority. That being so, here are three iconic folk songs with unknown authors.

“House of the Rising Sun”

“House of the Rising Sun” is one of the most well-known folk songs of all time. This is primarily because it has been covered by Bob Dylan, The Animals, Woody Guthrie, Joan Baez, Jimi Hendrix, and several other music icons. However, the original author of the tune remains unknown to this day.

According to the American Blues Scene, the tune originates from the early 1900s Appalachian area. However, it also has ties to England and, reportedly, New Orleans. The true origins of the song have never been robustly defined, but that is what makes it all the more alluring.

“Scarborough Fair”

Simon & Garfunkel introduced this age-old folk song to the masses with their 1966 cover of the song. However, they were far from the first people to cover it, as this song has existed for hundreds and hundreds of years. In addition to Simon & Garfunkel, other artists who have covered the song include Queensrÿche and Celtic Woman.

“Scarborough Fair” dates back to the mid-17th century and is thought to be a reimagined rendition of the Scottish ballad “The Elfin Knight,” per the Financial Times. Given the age of this song, no one will likely discover its original author. And for the sake of its majesty, it’s better off that way.

“Whiskey in the Jar”

While a folk song, bands have reimaged “Whiskey in the Jar” into rock songs, metal songs, and even opera songs. Most folks know this song thanks to The Dubliners’ 1967 cover of the track, though Metallica, Thin Lizzy, and the Grateful Dead have also covered the song.

Given that this single is a traditional Irish folk song, people have seemingly passed this song down for generations. That being so, its original author is entirely unknown. However, according to the Financial Times, the earliest version of the song dates back to 1840.

Simon & Garfunkel 1977.© Chris Walter.