h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I am looking for suggestions for good songs with which people can join in.

Criteria:

1) Can be accompanied on guitar (I play quite well).
2) Known by maximum number of people across all ages. This is the hard one! OR...
3) Easy enough to pick up very quickly, maybe with chorus.
4) Enjoyable, non-trivial words, decent tune.

Any ideas? List of 10 would be nice...

How about the 'manamana' song from the muppets? Not the most serious subject, but good fun for all.

Also the most sung song in the world 'Happy Birthday to you'. (Original lyrics 'good morning to all'). Must be easy to find chords for that on the net too.

Please give 'Kumbaya' a miss though

Always look on the bright side of life

American pie?

CF

Can you give us an idea of the setting?

Stag Night?
Christian Fellowship Weekend?
Family reunion?

Brits, Yanks, Someeone Else, Some Combination?

Try some Beatles songs.
I once heard a gang of kids in a dodgy Czech youth hostel having a sing-song to 'Yellow Submarine', but that might be too silly for you.
Or how about "Hey Jude", "Let it Be", "Here comes the sun" and so on.

But don't forget, once you've decided on a few, keep a notebook with names, basic chords and maybe a few lyrics so you can actually play and sing them when you get an opportunity.

1)Lean on Me
2)Amazing Grace
3)The Mickey Mouse Club (M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E)
4)Jumping Jack Flash (if you are really,really guitar talented)
5)Clementine
6)Papa was a Rolling Stone
7)I got you Babe
8)Grease themesong
9)Staying Alive by the BeeGees
10)YMCA
11)This land is your land....this land is my land
again it all depends on your audience. folk music or oldies generally can't go wrong.
Andrea

it also depends on the occasion and location
Andrea

"This is the song that doesn't end"

Sloop John B by the Beachboys...it is very beautiful and can be learned and gotten into very easiy by those who haven't heard it.
Andrea

(Ok, I cheated and stole these from one of my brother's setlists). Anyway, here's a few example of songs that would be popular in our cirle...(take that how you will....

Beatles, The - Yesterday
Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over
Eagles, The - Hotel California
Hunters and Collectors - Throw Your Arms Around Me
Kelly, Paul – To Her Door
Lennon, John - Stand By Me
Lloyd, Alex - Amazing
Marley, Bob - No Woman No Cry
Monkees, The - I'm a Believer
Nash, Johnny - I Can See Clearly Now
Oasis - Wonderwall
Orbison, Roy - Blue Bayou
Powderfinger - Passenger
Queen - Crazy Little thing Called Love
Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Under the Bridge
REM - Everybody Hurts
Screaming Jets, The - Helping Hand
Simon & Garfunkle - Mrs Robinson
Stealer's Wheel - Stuck in The Middle With You
Stevens, Cat - Cats in The Cradle
System Of A Down - Toxicity
Taxiride - Creeping Up Slowly
Taylor, James - You've Got a Friend
U2 - All I Want is You
Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
Traditional - Fisherman's Blues

Thanks a lot to everyone who has responded so far. You're very kind.

I had always intended to give Kumbaya a miss, hence the request for suggestions. Think I'll be giving the Muppets a miss as well, though...

For those who wanted an idea of context, we're talking British pub setting, mixed audience, mixed ages. Christian Fellowship Weekends are not a consideration - I have gone down well in the past with "Plastic Jesus" (see "Cool Hand Luke", but my version is more bluegrassy).

The Beatles are always a good idea, Jumping Jack Flash holds no terrors (I actually play rather better than quite well, but don't want to boast). When Andrea says that I can't go wrong with folk music and oldies, she's quite right - but which are the BEST folk tunes and oldies? "Alberta" from Eric Clapton's unplugged album went down amazingly well recently.

Anyway, big thanks, and keep 'em coming - I really am grateful.

PS do I know "Fisherman's Blues"? What are the first couple of lines?

Right, most Beatles songs, All YOu Need is Love being one most people know. Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody, We Will Rock You among a few...

the Muppets, stuff by U2, Everybody Hurts by REM...Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana...

loads of Frank Sinatra and oldies...