Studs Terkel travels to a Yurt shepherd's farm commune to hear the old song ballad of a Mongolian hero. It concerns a slave uprising from 200 years ago and shows the unity of the Mongolian people. Terkel compares this music to the Hungarian legacy before moving to the School of Story Telling and School of Music and Story Telling in the capital of Inner Mongolia, Hohhot. We are introduced to the four string hu that played Homeric ballads of drinking songs that could last four days.

Terkel presents an Easter program. Songs include "Lord of the Dance/Simple Gifts" sung by Bill Crofut and Benjamin Luxon; "Plenty Good Room" sung by Roland Hayes; "Vidé" a carnival song of Martinique; "Wondrous Love" sung by Ed McCurdy; "The Cuckoo" sung by Burr Tillstrom as Kukla; "The Cuckoo's Nest" sung by Jimmy MacBeath; "The Cuckoo" sung by Jean Ritchie; "Gloria," Malaga Flemenco song; "Old Blind Barnabus" sung by Golden Gate Quartet; and Bach's "St.

Studs Terkel interviews Doc Watson about his music career. The interview includes recordings and live sections of different songs that have shaped his career.

Studs Terkel interviews Canadian singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie.

Studs Terkel comments on folk music entertainers Stever Goodman and John Prine. He discusses a little about their life and names a variety of their song titles. The musical performances have been erased from this edited version of the recording. Includes an excerpt from a previous interview with John Prine who speaks about his grandfather and a song he wrote about him.

Studs Terkel interviews and discusses the history and cultural significance of folk music with Doc Watson. Topics include Watson's personal history and biography, the origins of some of the songs he sings, sacred music.

Studs Terkel presents a “musical portrait” of Steve Goodman with the musician joining him in the studio to discuss, listen to, and play songs from his album “Words We Can Dance To.” Goodman begins by performing the blues song “Glory of Love,” and Terkel plays a clip from Big Bill Broonzy’s rendition of the song; Goodman cites Big Bill as one of his many influences. Goodman also plays an old jazz song called “When the Red, Red Robin,” with Terkel connecting that song to his first memories of jazz.

Discussing folk traditions of the world and interviewing folk music collectors and musicians Stephen Addiss and Bill Crofut.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Studs engages the former Chicago Symphony Orchestra conductor, Sir Georg Solti, in a wide-ranging conversation about his life and career. From his early studies in Budapest with Béla Bartók, his string of good-luck opportunities before, during, and after World War II, meeting Toscanini in Lucerne, and starting on top conducting in Frankfurt, London, and finally Chicago. He discusses his many German and European musical influences and contemporaries, and stresses the importance of education, arts funding, and hard work.

Known for their songs about the working class, both Florence Reece and Pete Seeger talk about how they come about writing the lyrics to songs. Seeger says unbeknownst to them, anyone can write a song. Included within this interview, Seeger plays the banjo and Reece sings a song.

Judy Collins converses with Studs about her early life and her career as a singer of folk music. The following songs are played throughout the interview: "Lark in the Morning;" "The Great Silkie of Sule Skerry;" "Pretty Saro;" "Song of the Wandering Aengus," Yeats, W.B. read by Cyril Cusak; "Golden Apples of the Sun," Yeats, W.B./Edmonson, Travis; "The Bold Fenian Men," Kearney, Paedar; "The Ballad of the Carpenter," MacColl, Ewan; and "The dove." Traditional/MacColl, Ewan.

Shel Silverstein discusses his books and children's literature, and art. Shel Silverstein discusses his contemporaries, art, and life experiences.

*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Interviewing singer, guitarist, and civil rights activist Josh White and blues singer Sam Gary about their blues and folk music.