Barber Shop Ballads

This page lists some of the most popular Barber Shop Ballads along with other songs and music in the barber shop style. These songs weren’t originally written by Sigmund Spaeth, but his arrangements are detailed in his book: Barber Shop Ballads And How To Sing Them.

Each of these ballads were entered into the public domain in 1987 and are listed below in the same order as they appear in Spaeth’s book. Check them out. Many of these are fun pieces written for male quartets. This is truly the beginning of the modern day A cappella groups like “Straight No Chaser” and Pentatonix.

Music in the Barber Shop Style

Song TitleSongwriter: WordsSongwriter: MusicYear Written
You're the Flower of My Heart, Sweet AdelineRichard GerhardRichard Gerhard1903
O Happy DayUnknownUnknown1891
Say Au Revoir but Not Good-bye Harry Kennedy Harry Kennedy 1893
And When I Die and The Goat UnknownUnknownUnknown
We Never Speak as We Pass By UnknownUnknownUnknown
My EvalineUnknownUnknownUnknown
Way Down Yonder in the Corn Field UnknownUnknownUnknown
[I've Been] Workin' on the RailroadUnknownUnknownUnknown
Down Mobile UnknownUnknownUnknown
ShineUnknownUnknown1924
When You Were Sweet Sixteen UnknownJames Thornton
1898
My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean UnknownUnknownUnknown
Old Black Joe Stephen Collins Foster Stephen Collins Foster
1960
My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night Stephen Collins Foster Stephen Collins Foster
1853
Carry Me Back to Old Virginny James Allen Bland James Allen Bland 1878
In the Evening by the Moonlight James Allen Bland James Allen Bland Unknown
Aury Lee UnknownUnknown1861
Bring the Wagon Home, John UnknownUnknownUnknown
That Little Old Red Shawl UnknownUnknownUnknown
Sweet Genevieve George Cooper Henry Tucker1869
Red River Valley UnknownUnknownUnknown
When You and I Were Young, Maggie UnknownUnknown1866
Graceful and Easy Kenneth Clark UnknownUnknown
And When the Leaves UnknownUnknownUnknown
Shall I Wasting in Despair George WitherUnknown1600
Ezekiel Saw the Wheel UnknownUnknownUnknown
You Shall Be FreeUnknownUnknownUnknown
Polly Wolly Doodle UnknownUnknownUnknown
In the Morning by the Bright Light James Allen Bland James Allen Bland
1879
Good-bye, My Lover, Good-byeUnknownUnknownUnknown
I Had a Dream Dear Charlie Daniels Charlie Daniels Unknown
Down By the Stream Alaur Alaur Unknown
My Comrades, When I'm No More Drinking and Breakfast Edward EvansUnknown1902
Way Down on the Bingo Farm UnknownUnknownUnknown
Oh, Mah LindyUnknownUnknownUnknown
Good-night, Ladies and Soldier's Farewell Johanna KinkelJohanna Kinkel1911

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