I live in a continuing care retirement community, where I lead the ukulele group. There will be a number of programs next year to celebrate America's birthday. I said the ukuleles could do a program of Americana songs. Now I am mulling over what I mean by that. We will probably do this in the second half of the year, so this is not a big rush. Usually, the purpose of my group is to get the residents of the nursing area area to sing. We also do concerts less than monthly for residents in assisted living and independent apartments.

I am thinking about songs from the colonial era thru the 1800s, including at least one song each on soldiers, sailors, cowboys, farmers, westward expansion, and miners. What songs would you include, if you were setting up such a program?