Well, this has been a good exercise. I found the more I worked on my list the more painfully aware that now I should go and learn these 50 songs myself. At the least, this is what I consider are a fairly well rounded, excluding much of the european, mid-east, far east, south american, central american and anywhere else but here in the good ole USA. Sorry world, we have adopted many of your good songs and forgotten the rest. My list follows.

Eatin Goober Peas
When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again
Elephant Fair, Bessie Jones
Juba, Bessie Jones
Where are you Going, My Pretty Little Miss? Jean Ritchie
Shady Grove, almost anyone's version
Froggie Went a Courtin, Wooing, etc., at least two versions
Mary Mack, the British version
Coonshine, Bessie Jones
The Beggarman, Clancy Brothers
Sittin' on the dock of the Bay, Otis
St. James Infirmary, both in a minor and a major key
Minnie the Moocher, Cab Callaway
Motherless Children
What a Day for a Daydream, John Sebastian
In the Pines, In the Pines
African American Spirituals 1 of 5 - you pick em
African American Spirituals 2 of 5 - you pick em
African American Spirituals 3 of 5 - you pick em
African American Spirituals 4 of 5 - you pick em
African American Spirituals 5 of 5 - you pick em
Black Jack Davie
Blues Stay Away from Me, Doc
Precious Lord, Doc's version
Keep on the Sunny Side
Life Is Like a Mountain Railroad
Star in the East (sacred harp song) Almeeda Riddle
Beryuzoviye Kalyechke, Russian Gypsy, Theodore Bikel
Rock-a-bye Baby
Wondrous Love
Wayfarin' Stranger
Hame afore the gale, Murray Shoolbraid
The Purple People Eater
The Drunken Sailor
Draw Me a Bucket of Water, Bessie Jones
Ring a round the Rosie
Home, Home on the Range
America the Beautiful
Hatikvoh
Virgin Mary, Joan Baez
As I Went Down in the Valley to Pray, Doc
The Parting Glass
Auld Lang Syne
Broom o'er the Cowdenknowes
I Wished I was a Rock. Alex Campbell
Eileen Aroon
All Along the Watchtower
Oh Death, Dock Boggs
Hush Little Baby
All the Pretty Little Horses