The sound of children's voices raised in song is perhaps one of the most viscerally uplifting in the world. Celtic music is full of such songs, passed down from generation to generation. Many of the songs on this Playlist, I grew up with when in Ireland. I have added songs from Scotland, England, and here in the U.S., there are even two contemporary songs - one by Elizabeth Mitchell, a personal favorite of mine, and one I sing with my granddaughter. Another, written by Padraigin ni Uallachain, traces the lines of some well-known Irish mythologies. There is also a contemporary take on a traditional song by Natalie Merchant from a collection of her's I very much enjoy called Leave Your Sleep.

As with our Lullabies Playlist from last week, this collection is only a small representation of the canon. If you have a favorite of your own not included here, let me know at celtic@wgbh.org. Meanwhile, feel free to listen and learn with your children and grandchildren and be sure to share.

These links are here for you to enjoy through WGBH. Each track and its source is in the Playlist below, I have added a time signature for each as well. If you like something in particular, please go to the artist's website and connect with them when possible. Tell them you like their music, buy a CD or a download, and please tell them you will come to see them if they play in a concert in your area. This simple kindness will make a massive difference to the morale of artists so devastated by this malaise.

Please know that we are together in this. Thinking of how now, more than ever, we need the power of music and art in our lives. Stay safe, please. We will reemerge.

00:00: "I'll Tell My Ma," Tom Sweeney, Songs and Stories for Children
01:46: "Mitty, Matty," The Clancy Children, So Early in the Morning: Irish Children's Songs, Rhymes, and Games
02:20: "Johnny When You Die," Len Graham, Garry O’Brian & Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin, When I Was Young - Children's Songs From Ireland
04:07: "Over in the Meadow," Jack Langstaff, Over in the Meadown
08:06: "Theres a Big Ship Sailing," The Clancy Children, So Early in the Morning: Irish Children's Songs, Rhymes, and Games
08:46: "Soldier, Soldier," Len Graham, Garry O’Brian & Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin, When I Was Young - Children's Songs From Ireland
10:53: "Frog Went a Courtin," Jack Langstaff, Over in the Meadow
16:00: "The Field Mouse's Ball," Len Graham, Garry O’Brian & Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin, When I Was Young - Children's Songs From Ireland
18:42: "When I was Young," The Clancy Children, So Early in the Morning: Irish Children's Songs, Rhymes, and Games
19:12: "When I was Young," Len Graham, Garry O’Brian & Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin, When I Was Young - Children's Songs From Ireland
21:16: "Waltzing with Bears," Gordon Bok, Ann Mayo-Muir, Ed Tricket, Live in Minnesota
26:20: "Frosty Weather," The Clancy Children, So Early in the Morning: Irish Children's Songs, Rhymes, and Games
26:30: "There Was a Frog Lived in the Well," The Clancy Children, So Early in the Morning: Irish Children's Songs, Rhymes, and Games
29:07: "She Didn't Dance," The Clancy Children, So Early in the Morning: Irish Children's Songs, Rhymes, and Games
29:43: "The Golden Ball," Len Graham, Garry O’Brian & Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin, When I Was Young - Children's Songs From Ireland
31:53: "Coulter's Candy," Revels, A Scottish Revels
32:49: "Do You Love An Apple," Len Graham, Garry O’Brian & Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin, When I Was Young - Children's Songs From Ireland
35:32: "Allee, Allee, O," Jack Langstaff, Over in the Meadow
36:25: "Jeremiah, Jermiah, Blow the Fire," The Clancy Children, So Early in the Morning: Irish Children's Songs, Rhymes, and Games
37:02: "Dance to Your Daddy," The Clancy Children, So Early in the Morning: Irish Children's Songs, Rhymes, and Games
37:28: "Dance to your Daddy," Sweeneys Men, The Tracks of Sweeney
39:32: "Uncle Rat," Len Graham, Garry O’Brian & Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin, When I Was Young - Children's Songs From Ireland
41:08: "The Rattling Bog," The Clancy Children, So Early in the Morning: Irish Children's Songs, Rhymes, and Games
43:01: "I know Where I'm Going," Len Graham, Garry O’Brian & Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin, When I Was Young - Children's Songs From Ireland
44:55: "Fair Rosa," Len Graham, Garry O’Brian & Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin, When I Was Young - Children's Songs From Ireland
47:07: "The Wren Song,"The Clancy Children, So Early in the Morning: Irish Children's Songs, Rhymes, and Games
48:04: "The Fox and the Hare," Len Graham, Garry O’Brian & Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin, When I Was Young - Children's Songs From Ireland
49:54: "Arm in Arm," Elizabeth Mitchell, Blue Skies
52:18: "I Saw A Ship Come Sailing," Natalie Merchant, Leave Your Sleep
54:28: "The Willow Tree," Len Graham, Garry O’Brian & Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin, When I Was Young - Children's Songs From Ireland
57:55: "Three Crows," Revels, A Scottish Revels