Folk Songs About May Day

May 1 is International Labor Day. It is an English and/or Celtic holiday (beltane), dancing around the maypole. It is also Lei Day in Hawaii, a tradition started by Don Blanding in the 1920s.

[labor]
Pete Seeger\ The Death of Harry Simms\ American Industrial Ballads\ Smithsonian/Folkways
Charlie King\ Buy, Buy This American Car\ Food Phone Gas Lodging\ Flying Fish
Peter, Paul and Mary\ Union Medley\ In These Times\ Rhino
Pete Seeger: "Eight Hour Day" ("American Industrial Ballads", Folkways)
Bob Bovee: "Which Side Are You On?" ("Rebel Voices", Flying Fish)
U. Utah Phillips: "Soapbox Oration" ("The Long Memory", Red House)
Pete Seeger: "Talking Union" ("The Almanac Singers: Complete General Recordings", MCA)
James Keelaghan\ Hillcrest Mine\ Then Again\ Jericho Beach
Utah Phillips & Ani Difranco\ Joe Hill\ Fellow Workers\ Righteous Babe

[maypole]
Martin Carthy                   Famous Flower of Serving Men
        SHEARWATER                      (Mooncrest)
Eileen McGann                   The Beltane
        HERITAGE                        (Dragonwing)
The Watersons                   Hal An Tow
        FROST AND FIRE                  (Topic)
Jason Webley\ May Day\ Only Just Beginning\ Springman
Jean Ritchie: "The May Day Carol" ("Carols for All Seasons", Tradition)

[lei day]
Sol Hoopii\ The Lei Vendor\ Acoustic and Electric 1927 - 1936\ Hana Ola