Explore 250 Years of American Song

Songs(2,921)Composers(291)Poets and Writers(451)

Timeline Radio Essays Concerts & Playlists Books Online Resources Lessons & Activities

News About Support Contact

News (56)

African American Art Song Playlists!30 Jan 2026

“Singing Down the Barriers” Summer Institute 2026 (In-Person & Online)—Register by March 1st, 2026!29 Jan 2026

“Singing Down the Barriers” Summer Institute 2025 (In-Person & Online)—Register by March 1st, 2025!17 Oct 2024

“Singing Down the Barriers” Summer Institute 2024–Register Now!15 Nov 2023

“Singing Down the Barriers” Summer Institute 2023 (In-Person & Online)—Register by May 1!27 Mar 2023 <em>An Anthology of African and African Diaspora Songs</em> Recording Project15 Sep 2022 American Song Institute 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan!7 Sep 2022 “Singing Down the Barriers” Summer Institute 2022–Registration Ends July 1!18 Mar 2022 “Singing Down the Barriers” Institute in Summer 2021–Application Deadline Extended!1 Apr 2021 “The Art of Democracy: Song in America” Conversation Series Launches New Partnership4 Jun 2020 African American Music Conference 20202 May 2020

African Diaspora Music Project15 Sep 2019

African American Music Conference Sept. 201916 Jul 2019 <em>Song of America</em> Educator Workshop in Spokane!8 Feb 2019 “Songs from Chicago” Album14 Sep 2018 Song of America Educator Workshop10 Aug 2018 Song of America & the Mondavi Center National Young Artists Competition7 Sep 2017 The Scarlet Letter opera on Naxos11 Aug 2017 African American Art Song Alliance 2017 Conference Video Channel1 May 2017 LiveStream from African American Art Song Alliance Conference!31 Jan 2017 Celebrate Amy Beach’s 150th birthday in 2017!2 Jan 2017 National Carry A Tune Week8 Oct 2016 ‘Song of America’ with NYC Dept. of Ed. on Nov. 8, 2016!5 Oct 2016 Festival of American Song27 Sep 2016 ‘Song of America’ in Classical Singer Magazine (July 2016)1 Jul 2016 ‘Song of America’ Workshop & Special Event on June 25 in LA1 Jun 2016 ‘Song of America’: Beyond the Song on June 14, 2016 in San Francisco6 May 2016 ‘Song of America’ Educator Workshop on May 14, 2016 in LA6 May 2016 ‘Song of America’ Educator Workshop on April 23, 2016 in New York City1 Mar 2016 ‘Song of America’ in the Classroom: A Media Event on Dec. 12 in Chicago, Illinois16 Nov 2015

Radio Series (2)

Essays (2)

Composers (291)

Poets & Writers (451)

Songs (2921)

Books (0)

Online Resources (0)

Lessons & Activities (0)

Concerts & Playlists (0)

Eras (10)

Nation 1800–1859Expansion

& Reform 1860–1875Civil

War & Reconstruction 1876–1889Industrial

Revolution 1890–1928Emergence

of Modern United States 1929–1945Great

Depression and World War II 1946–1959Post-war

America 1960–1979Civil

rights 1980–1999End

of the century 2000–2023The

1978

Love and Not Know Why

Composed by Jeraldine Saunders Herbison

Text by Anonymous

"Love and Not Know Why" is a movement from Jeraldine Herbison's Five Art Songs and was published in 1978.

Receive our newsletter for the latest news, events and more.

Song of America is made possible thanks to

News About Support Contact

Follow Us

© 2026 Song of America