Pretty Boy Floyd album art

Pretty Boy Floyd

Woody Guthrie
Collection One: Fairy Battle (1940)
Moderate 90 BPM
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Song DNA

Dynamic Range5/10
Sudden Changesnone
Texturelayered
Predictabilitymedium
Vocal Stylesoft vocals
Notes: The song features a gentle, storytelling vocal style with a clear acoustic guitar backing, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Misophonia Triggers

Mouth Soundsnone
Percussive Clicksnone
Breathing Soundsnone
Repetitive Micro-soundsnone

A ballad that tells the story of the infamous outlaw Pretty Boy Floyd, reflecting on themes of social justice and rebellion.

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Hear it the way it was made

The right gear changes everything.

Moods: introspective, melancholy, reflective

Traditions: folk

How this song sits on each sensory axis

A dynamic range of 5/10 is within the normal pop-mix band. There is variation between verse and chorus, but it's the kind of variation most listeners encounter routinely.

Sudden changes: none. Transitions are musically signaled — nothing will surprise you if you're only half-listening.

Texture is layered — a full arrangement with clear separation between parts.

Predictability is medium — conventional structure overall, with one or two moments that deviate from what you'd expect.

Vocal style: soft vocals.

Where this sits in Woody Guthrie's catalog

We have 20 songs from Woody Guthrie in the library. Of those, 13 are rated Safe, 7 Moderate, and 0 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 5/10 sits above the artist average of 4.7, making it the #8 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.

1940 context

Released in 1940. We have 15 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 5.6/10. This track is quieter / less dynamic than the year average. Explore more from the 1940s.

Explore by mood and tradition

Moods
introspective · 5721melancholy · 5399reflective · 5792
Traditions
folk · 878

Why this rating

We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.

Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-17. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.

Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.

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Safer alternatives with a similar feel

These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.

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Everybody Hurts
R.E.M. safe

What this song means to people

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