I Hear America Singing

I Hear America Singing - Shel Silverstein

By Ross Burns

Published September 27, 2025 at 7:30 PM CDT

This week, Ross celebrates the whimsical world of cartoonist, children’s author, poet, and singer-songwriter Shel Silverstein. Expect the unexpected from the sad tale of The Unicorn to being Killed by a Coconut, from A Boy Named Sue to the haunting Marie Laveu to the prescient On the Cover of the Rolling Stone.

I HEAR AMERICA SINGING - SHEL SILVERSTEIN

1. I Hear America Singing by Bob Gibson
2. 25 Minutes To Go by Brothers Four
3. The Unicorn by The Irish Rovers
4. The Hills of Shiloh by Judy Collins
5. The Hip Song by The Chad Mitchell Trio
6. A Boy Named Sue by Johnny Cash
7. A Front Row Seat to Hear Ole Johnny Sing by Shel Silverstein
8. The 26 Second Song by My Morning Jacket
9. Marie Laveau by Bobby Bare
10. Daddy, What If? by Bobby Bare, Jr. & Isabella Bare
11. The Cover of the Rolling Stone by Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show
12. Put Another Log on the Fire by Tompall Glaser
13. The Winner by Kris Kristofferson
14. Living Legend by Bob Gibson
15. Me & Jimmy Rodgers by Ray Price
16. Still Gonna Die by The Old Dogs
17. Killed by a Coconut by Bob Gibson

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