In 2016 David Gordon established an unusual and popular solo concert series in historic Jacksonville, Oregon. Popularity grew, and he began performing for California audiences, too. Since 2016 he has given more than 50 performances of these "song and story" concerts.
The series focuses mostly on songs popular in the USA in the 19th Century. In his concerts David has featured more than 130 vintage songs, each one with its own memorable and carefully researched story. His musical arrangements are based on original sheet music.
The entire series playlist is shown below, although some titles may be missing. The list is arranged chronologically by the year the songs were first published. A few historic events have been added for context. Listen to audio samples.
Songs Popular in 19th Century America |
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1805 |
The Last Rose of Summer |
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1823 |
Home! Sweet Home! |
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1825 |
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1840 |
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1841 |
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1843 |
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The Boatmen Dance |
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Long, Long Ago |
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Oh We Won't Go Home Until Morning |
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1844 |
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The Blue Juniata |
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Open Thy Lattice, Love |
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1847 |
O Susanna |
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The Spider and the Fly |
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1848 |
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1849 |
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O California |
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Nelly was a Lady |
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1850 |
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Nelly Bly |
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Seeing the Elephant |
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What was your name in the States? |
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Ah! may the Red Rose Live Alway |
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Twenty Years Ago |
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1851 |
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Wait for the Wagon |
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Old Folks at Home (Swanee River) |
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1852 |
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The Miner’s Farewell |
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My Old Kentucky Home |
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Do They Miss Me at Home? |
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The Old Log Hut |
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Lilly Dale |
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1853 |
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1854 |
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Hard Times, Come Again No More |
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1855 |
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Listen to the Mockingbird |
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Over the Summer Sea |
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Miner’s Lament |
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The Ship That Never Returned |
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Some Folks |
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1856 |
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Sweet Betsy from Pike |
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Gentle Annie |
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1857 |
The Miner’s Song |
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1858 |
The California Stage Company |
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Champagne Charlie |
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Sweet Betsy from Pike | ||
Billy’s Back Room |
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1859 |
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The Rose-Bush |
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1860 |
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In the Days of 49 |
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I’ll Twine ’Mid the Ringlets |
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1861 |
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Nearer My God to Thee |
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1862 |
People Will Talk |
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Bonnie Blue Flag |
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Better Days are Coming | ||
If You've Only Got a Moustache |
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1863 |
All Quiet Along the Potomac To-night |
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We're Tenting Tonight on the Old Campground |
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When Johnny Comes Marching Home |
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1864 |
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Battle Cry of Freedom |
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Beautiful Dreamer |
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Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! (The Prisoner's Hope) |
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1865 |
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Song of the Overland Stage Driver |
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Marching Through Georgia |
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Love on the Brain |
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1866 |
Eating Goober Peas |
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1867 |
Don’t Marry a Man if He Drinks |
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1868 |
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The Man on the Flying Trapeze |
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The French Velocipede |
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1869 |
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Hurrah For Our National Game |
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1870 |
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1869 |
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Song of the Sewing Machine |
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Up in a Balloon |
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The Flying Velocipede |
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1871 |
The Wonderful Musician |
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After the Opera | ||
1872 |
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Courting in the Rain |
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1874 |
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The Base Ball Song |
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Lips That Touch Liquor Shall Never Touch Mine |
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1875 |
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Oh Papa, Don’t Drink Any More |
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Oh Barney, Take Me Home Again |
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1876 |
I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen |
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My Grandfather’s Clock |
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Have Courage, My Boy, to Say No |
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1877 |
The Wondrous Telephone |
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Charlie the Telegraph Clerk |
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In the Gloaming |
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1878 |
The Electric Light Waltz |
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1879 |
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I’m a Western Union Telegraph Boy |
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Rock-A-Bye Baby |
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1880 | The Picture on the Wall | |
1882 |
The Great Rock Island Route |
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1884 |
Love's Old Sweet Song |
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The Fountain in the Park | ||
1891 |
After the Ball |
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1899 |
A Bird in a Gilded Cage |
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Keep On the Sunny Side of Life |
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My Wild Irish Rose |
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20th Century - Tin Pan Alley and Beyond |
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1901 |
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1903 |
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1905 |
In My Merry Oldsmobile |
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1906 |
Shine On, Harvest Moon |
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Low Bridge, Everybody Down |
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1909 |
Take Me Up With You, Dearie |
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1910 |
Let me Call you Sweetheart |
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1913 |
When Irish Eyes are Smiling |
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1914 |
TooRaLooRaLooRal |
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1930 |
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime |
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1951 |
Two Brothers |
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2017 |
Oregon Place Names Song |
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Folk Songs (18th to mid-19th Century) |
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![]() The Water is Wide Follow the Drinking Gourd Poor Wayfarin' Stranger Oh Shenandoah One More River to Cross I Am a Rovin' Gambler Jack o' Diamonds / Rye Whiskey The Girl I Left Behind Me Begone, Dull Care and more...
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