Dear Singers,

I love old folk songs. Knowing history is about more than knowing who did what when. It’s also about trying to empathize and understand what life was like in different places and at different times. I believe listening to and singing the songs of people from different places and different times helps us do that. Even more, these old songs contain a peal of truth that keeps ringing across the world and into and beyond our own times.

So today we’ll sing lots of old songs: We’ll sing songs about freedom, songs about rambling and wanderin’, songs abour friendship, and songs about nothing at all. When we do it, think about what life was like for the people who first sang these songs and also what truths still resonate today.

Sincerely,

Mr. H