I Hear America Singing - Stories Behind the Songs

By Ross Burns

Published May 17, 2025 at 7:30 PM CDT

This week on I Hear America Singing, Ross Burns digs into the stories behind a number of songs that themselves, tell stories.

I HEAR AMERICA SINGING - STORIES BEHIND THE SONGS

1. Backwater Blues by Big Bill Broonzy
2. The Battle of New Orleans by Jimmy Driftwood
3. Reverend Mr. Black by The Kingston Trio
4. Abilene by George Hamilton IV
5. Those Were the Days by Mary Hopkins
6. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face by Roberta Flack
7. Blowin’ In the Wind by Peter, Paul, & Mary
8. Leaving on a Jet Plane by Peter, Paul & Mary
9. Hello In There by John Prine
10. Teresa by John Stewart
11. The Sinking of the Reuben James by Arlo Guthrie with the Dillards
12. Mr. Bojangles by Jerry Jeff Walker
13. Hondo’s Song by Steven Fromholz and Willie Nelson
14. Dear Darcie by Steven Fromholz

I Hear America Singing

Ross Burns

A native of Austin, Texas, Ross grew up in the midst of the Urban Folk Revival of the 1950s and 60s. His first introduction to folk music was the Kingston Trio with their million selling albums. From there, he went forward, backwards and sideways collecting music all along the way. He is a retired librarian and a student of history.

See stories by Ross Burns