With this collection, curator Jeff Place culls a cross-section of 26 classics from the Smithsonian Folkways vaults to tell an intriguing story of American signature sing-along. The songs' origins are as fascinating as the songs are fun: centuries-old European ballads, an American Revolutionary tune, Nineteenth-century American folksongs, African-derived game songs, a sea chantey, a railroad jingle, camp songs, and even an opera song.

Come along with me to the riverside. In these Songs, I build on concepts of everyday life. My hope is that through musical lyric, rhythm and rhyme we will not only remember, but extend our gratitude for the common things.