Traditional Songs from Britain and Ireland
Folk songs, sea shanties and "Auld Lang Syne" – with the words you need.
Traditional songs have been sung for generations and are part of everyday culture in Britain and Ireland. They are also perfect for learners: simple tunes, lots of repetition and choruses everyone joins in.
Key Words
Ten essential words with their German meaning and an example sentence.
| English | German | Example |
|---|---|---|
| folk song | Volkslied | "Scarborough Fair" is an old English folk song. |
| traditional (trad.) | traditionell, überliefert | Nobody knows who wrote it – it's traditional. |
| ballad | Ballade | A ballad tells a story, often a sad one. |
| sea shanty | Seemannslied, Shanty | Sailors sang sea shanties while they worked. |
| call and response | Vorsänger und Antwort | Shanties use call and response: one sings, everyone answers. |
| refrain | Kehrreim | The refrain comes back after every verse. |
| tune | Melodie, Weise | The same tune is used for several different songs. |
| pub session | Musik-Session im Pub | In Ireland, anyone can join in at a pub session. |
| to pass down | überliefern, weitergeben | These songs were passed down by ear. |
| auld lang syne | die gute alte Zeit (Schottisch) | "Auld lang syne" is Scots for "old long since" – the old days. |
Word Partners
Natural English depends on words that belong together. Learn these as complete phrases.
- to sing along
- to join in the chorus
- a well-known tune
- passed down through generations
- to raise a glass
- at New Year
- a work song
- a traditional session
At midnight on New Year's Eve, people join hands and sing "Should auld acquaintance be forgot…" – the opening line of Robert Burns's "Auld Lang Syne" (1788).
Useful Phrases
Sentence patterns you can use straight away.
Famous traditional songs
- "Auld Lang Syne" – Scotland, sung at New Year
- "Scarborough Fair" – an English ballad
- "Molly Malone" – Dublin's unofficial anthem
- "The Drunken Sailor" – a classic sea shanty
Talking about them
- Everyone knows the chorus.
- It's sung at the end of the night.
- Nobody knows who wrote it.
- There are lots of different versions.
Talk About It
Answer these questions aloud, write a short paragraph, or discuss them with a partner.
- Are there traditional songs that everyone knows in your country?
- Do you know any English folk songs or sea shanties?
- Why do you think sea shanties became popular again online?
- When do people sing together in Germany?
Test Yourself
Click a question to see the answer.
1. What is a sea shanty?
A work song that sailors sang on ships.
2. When is "Auld Lang Syne" usually sung?
At New Year, at midnight.
3. What does "call and response" mean?
One person sings a line and the group answers.
Explore More
More pages in the Voice & Singing series.
Join in the chorus.
Learn the words, use them in real sentences and enjoy using your voice in English.
Old songs. New voices.