Rise Up Singing: The Group Singing Songbook

by Peter Blood, Kore Loy McWhirter, Annie Patterson (Editor)

(Vocal). The most popular folk songbook of all time! Words, chords and sources to 1200 songs designed for group singing anywhere, anytime! Includes illustrations and an introduction by Pete Seeger. Songs Amazing Grace * Desperado * Let It Be * My Favorite Things * The Rose * hundreds more. Spiral-bound.

Genres: Music, Reference, Nonfiction, Childrens, How To, Art, Spirituality

290 pages, Spiral-bound

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Joseph · Rating 2 out of 5]

This may very well be the most divisive book in the folk music community. I have found that people who think of themselves primarily as singers tend to love it because it has the lyrics to 1,200 songs. People who think of themselves primarily as instrumentalists tend to hate it, because the chords are presented in a mysterious, hard to decipher, harder to play notation that gives you no clue as to what the time signature, the tempo, and the rhythm of the song are. The separation of the chords from the lyrics in the text adds to the difficulty. In addition, since only chords and lyrics are presented, the book gives no clue as to what the melody is, so a melody player like a fiddler is out of luck. Its fans will excuse these shortcomings by telling you that to use the book you have to know the song. This makes little sense to me as a guitarist, bassist and fiddler, because if I know the song, I don't need a fake book. Other problems are that the chords listed for some songs are simplified to the point of removing the richness from the harmonies and for other songs are just downright wrong. While it contains a lot of songs, it tends to omit or give short shrift to many of the songs from the darker side of the folk tradition (e.g. songs of rage, hurt, self pity, grief...). The type in the standard-sized edition is pretty small, so if you have any issues with your vision, this book will be hard to read when it is sitting on a music stand, especially under low light. Although the font is a bit bigger in the group leader edition, these 52-year-old eyes still find it tough going. If you are a serious folk musician, you may need to have a copy of this because it is widely used. If you have a choice in the matter there are far better books out there, though they do not contain as many songs.

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.

Seriously. Wow. This is the greatest songbook you'll ever find, and possibly the only songbook you'll ever need. It's a fantastic resource for both singer and player.

I think I'm on my third of fourth. I keep wearing them out.

[Pedro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I borrowed this from the library several year ago, and just kept renewing it for the next six months. When I finally had to return it, I pined away till I got my own copy for my birthday. O Happy Day!!
Once again I can regale my kids with many old folk songs, Bob Dylan classics, children's songs, even hymns! This book really does have something for everyone. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is that valuable space that could have been used for more old-timey music is taken up by space-filler like "My mom's a feminist", "It's only a wee wee", and "Gay spirit", which features the classic lines,

"You run and tell those old patriarchs
We're no longer blind to their ways
Run and tell them we've stolen the keys
To the prison they have made"

YEAH!!!!

[Dáithí's · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing collection of songs from all cultures and generations. With lyrics and guitar chords for over 1200 song titles, one can't go wrong when in need of a music reference. My brilliant music director told me about this wen we were beginning our new Interfaith Church. It has been an amazing tool that we are using to create our own hymnal. The songs range from popular (The Beatles, Pete Seeger, etc.) to Negro Spirituals to Silly Children's' Songs. The uses for this book are practically unlimited.

It is in a compact format, so it is easily portable. Cool illustrations are throughout. Say hello to some old favourites and make some new friends as you experience the blessing of music. Awesome book!!!!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had multiple copies of this book since I was a kid. It was the first book I turned to when I was learning guitar. I remember marking all of the songs I knew (thanks to hippie parents and teachers) in my first copy, then marking it again a few years later, and being surprised how many of them I hadn't even realized that I knew. It's been useful to turn to for lyrics numerous times when I've been told I'll be part of a festival-closing number or a jam. It's sort of a historical document of my life, as well as folk music.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't say enough good things about this book. A great resource for those like me who are musically impaired: all the chords, all the lyrics, and all the sources in one place for hundreds of songs. I'm surprised at how many songs I'm familiar with in this book, many of them I'm learning from listening to WUMB folk radio (UMASS Boston) on the web.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly cannot imagine my son's childhood without this book. It contains the words to over 1,000 songs. Many of which I remember, sang or know somehow and some I've learned along the way. My copy is getting so tattered now I may need a new one and my son will probably want to take one to college with him.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great collection of song lyrics, but I find the lack of musical notation is a major drawback. You have to already know the tunes pretty well to use this book for singing, but it's a pretty good reference even if you can't remember the tunes.

[Morgan Djuna Sorais Harrigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Sing Out Loud Book Ever.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has all the words to all the sing along songs you've ever heard. It is a must for anyone who gets earworms.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

My tattered copy is one of the few books that I always know exactly where it is.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely collection of folk songs; the ideal gift for a singer or guitar student; rather a book for young folk or the young at heart. I own it I love it.

[Jobiska (Cindy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have only one songbook, this is the one, though you may want more than one copy!

[Mary Pusateri]

Amazing compilation of fabulous songs!
This is about my fifth copy over several decades.
Bought this one for a friend.

[Priscilla King · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the biggest and best ever sing-along collection of U.S. baby-boomers' favorite songs. Of things I bought in 1988 it may be the best investment I made that year. "Read" (consulted) several times every year over the last 31 years.

Goodreads didn't think the paragraph above was long enough? Right. What people don't absolutely love about this book is that, if you don't already know the tunes of these songs, the book won't teach them to you. Suggested guitar or autoharp chords are given (in autoharp notation style), but actual melodies, in musical notation, appear only in the "Rounds" chapter. This was due to copyright laws and to the fact that in 1988 you could always find all the recordings of each song--most songs were recorded by more than one artist.

If you don't know most of the tunes to these songs, chances are you're not a U.S. baby-boomer. Find one of us to teach the tune or share a recording with you.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book. Especially the intro by Pete Seeger. I bought my own copy finally. Now I can sing "The Battle Hymn of Women" whenever I want. "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the fire of women's rage..."

[Amron · Rating 4 out of 5]

The words to over 1,200 songs. Many of which you have heard, sang or know somehow but always needed the real lyrics. My hub and I have had fun singing some of them to my son.

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must have for any aspiring folk singer (or parent-to-be).

[Jeannie Locke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tons of songs, chords, and lyrics... many are standards and songs you already know or thought you knew. I actually purchased the music CDs which accompany these arrangements... great teaching tool.

[Julie Grace Immink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tuck this book under your pillow, it's a lullaby.

[Thomas Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words and chords. CDs of partial songs--enough to give the melody--are available at https://www.riseupsinging.org (or try Spotify or youtube).

[Philippa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great songbook with a lot of folk songs and right-on tunes.

[Karetchko]

I received this book as a gift when I was learning to play mandolin, and it went with me to summer camp, to college, to Eastern Europe...and eventually it fell apart and I had to buy another copy. Very handy for those folk-ish songs where you don't remember all the words (or where you aren't musical enough to figure out the chords on your own).

[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great, thick songbook with lots of songs I know but gobs I've never even heard of. There are guitar chords included, although they're all in a line and I have no idea how you'd use them. But I suppose that if you know how to play a guitar, you'd probably have an idea unlike me.

[goldread ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! in a book*

[simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

a staple for every house i ever want to live in

[Andy Mcnamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great songbook

[Chrisiant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never leave home without it!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has become a staple for yearbook...

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

nonfic/music history. As mentioned in other reviews, there is no sheet music to this compilation, only lyrics and chord progressions, so if you don't already know or can't find a sample of the actual tune elsewhere you're out of luck. But there are so many popular songs in here (and a serviceable index searchable by subject, cultural background, title and artist), you're bound to know many of them already, and (as the editors point out) publishing all of these 1200 songs with sheet music would have been very bulky, and much more expensive because of the copyrights.
I didn't find it that useful for my purposes, but it is a valuable resource for some of the rarer folk and traditional songs that might have gotten lost without such a record.