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In the world of music, songwriting is one of the most important parts of creating a hit. Yet, many songs we enjoy today have unknown writers, disputed origins, or hidden contributors who never received credit. From folk classics to global pop hits, the stories behind these songs show how creativity can sometimes get lost, forgotten, or hidden behind the scenes. Below is a list of 30 songs many people enjoy but do not know who wrote them, along with the mysterious histories behind their creation.

1. “Auld Lang Syne” – Traditional

Most people sing it every New Year, but few know the original writer. The song is often credited to Scottish poet Robert Burns, but older versions existed before him.

2. “Amazing Grace” – Traditional Melody

Although John Newton wrote the lyrics, the melody’s composer remains unknown. The tune has roots in traditional folk music.

3. “House of the Rising Sun” – Traditional

Made famous by The Animals, this song’s writer still remains a mystery. It likely came from old folk traditions passed down orally.

4. “Scarborough Fair” – Traditional

Popularized by Simon & Garfunkel, the original composer of this medieval English ballad is unknown.

5. “Wayfaring Stranger” – Traditional

A haunting folk classic with no confirmed author. Its origins stretch across various cultures.

6. “Shenandoah” – Traditional American Folk

Despite its widespread popularity, no one knows who originally wrote this river ballad.

7. “Kumbaya (Come By Here)” – Traditional Spiritual

A well-known spiritual song with an unknown composer, believed to have emerged from African-American communities.

8. “Sloop John B” – Traditional Caribbean Folk

The Beach Boys made it famous, but the original Bajan writer remains unidentified.

9. “Matilda” – Trinidadian Folk Song

Harry Belafonte popularized it, but the original writer is unknown.

10. “Bella Ciao” – Italian Folk Song

Known globally after Money Heist, this protest song has no confirmed composer.

11. “Johnny B. Goode” (Ghostwriting Rumors)

Though officially written by Chuck Berry, long-running debates claim uncredited contributors shaped parts of the song.

12. “Hound Dog” (Early Origins Unknown)

While credited to Leiber and Stoller, earlier blues versions existed without proper documentation.

13. “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen” – Spiritual

Its writer is unknown, but it has deep roots in enslaved African-American communities.

14. “Day-O (Banana Boat Song)” – Traditional Jamaican Work Song

Though many know Harry Belafonte’s version, the original writer is not documented.

15. “Mbube (Wimoweh)” – Traditional African Composition

Solomon Linda’s version is recorded, but earlier versions existed long before him.

16. “La Bamba” – Traditional Mexican Folk

Ritchie Valens made it popular globally, but the original writer is unknown.

17. “Greensleeves” – Traditional English

Often rumored to be written by King Henry VIII, but historians disagree, and the real writer is still unknown.

18. “Three Blind Mice” – Unknown Writer

Published in 1609, but the original composer remains a mystery.

19. “London Bridge Is Falling Down” – Traditional Nursery Rhyme

No one knows who originally wrote this centuries-old children’s song.

20. “Mary Had a Little Lamb” (Disputed Authorship)

Though credited to Sarah Josepha Hale, another writer claimed the lyrics decades later.

21. “Rock-a-Bye Baby” – Unknown

A classic lullaby with uncertain origins, possibly dating back to early colonial America.

22. “Frère Jacques” – French Traditional

A global children’s song with an unknown writer.

23. “Wade in the Water” – African-American Spiritual

This spiritual, used historically on the Underground Railroad, has no known composer.

24. “The Water Is Wide” – Traditional Celtic Folk

This emotional ballad existed long before modern documentation began.

25. “Jamaican Farewell” (Disputed Authorship)

Often credited to Irving Burgie, though folk historians argue earlier versions existed.

26. “This Little Light of Mine” – Unknown Composer

Despite its global popularity, the original writer is still debated.

27. “Drunken Sailor” – Sea Shanty

A sailor song passed orally through generations, with no known author.

28. “Oh My Darling, Clementine” (Melody Origins Unknown)

The lyrics are known, but the tune’s true origin remains unclear.

29. “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” – Spiritual

Although Wallace Willis is credited, earlier forms of the song existed among enslaved communities.

30. “She’ll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain” – Traditional

The original composer is unknown, though the song has deep African-American folk roots.

Why So Many Songs Have Unknown Writers

Many of these songs come from:

folk traditions,
oral storytelling,
spiritual communities,
historical work songs, and
cultures without written music documentation.

For centuries, people passed songs down by memory. Over time, the original composer became forgotten or the song evolved into many versions, making authorship impossible to verify.

Conclusion

These 30 songs with unknown or disputed writers remind us that music often belongs to the people before it reaches modern platforms. From global anthems to viral hits, many tracks began as community creations, cultural expressions, or traditional melodies without official authors. Their mysterious origins are part of what keeps them timeless.