Top 10 Mumford & Sons Songs: A List to Keep You Sane During the Hiatus

It has been two weeks since Mumford & Sons announced their hiatus to Rolling Stone Magazine. It was a little shocking for the band to announce their pause to the music-making during a time when they were sweeping the globe with catchy hooks and boot-stomping beats. But, after what seemed like a whirlwind year for the quartet, full of Grammys, playing shows to 50,000 people, seeing chart topper after chart topper, being featured on soundtracks, and making some pretty great music videos, its understood why they could use a little break!

There’s only one thing we can do while waiting patiently for their return: listen and enjoy some of their best songs. This list celebrates Mumford & Sons best tunes, the live recordings, the extended releases, and everything in-between! Enjoy our list of the Top 10 Mumford & Sons songs, and hang in there, hopefully we’ll see some new M&S material to add to the list within the next couple of years!

1. Awake My Soul (Live from the Red Rocks) 
Not going to lie to you all, this is a totally subjective number one. This is the first M&S song I fell in love with, and this version, complete with a little bit of electric guitar, drums, and a very prominent piano melody, looks and sounds beautiful at the Red Rocks Amphitheater.
http://youtu.be/bYXz1hE_bWc

2. Not With Haste// Learn Me Right
“I will love with urgency/ But not with haste,” these might be the cutest lyrics featured in one of the cutest songs Mumford & Sons have ever recorded. The song was first released, with Birdy providing the vocals, on the Brave soundtrack during the summer of 2012. The song popped up again as the last track on Mumford’s 2012 album, Babel. Both versions are equally precious.

3. After the Storm
“After the Storm” is a peaceful show stopper. The song is warm and graceful, a perfect ending to the M&S debut album, Sigh No More.
http://youtu.be/z3RP1VbUaaA

4. Winter Winds
“Winter Winds” was the second single released from Sigh No More. Fun fact: Banjo player, Winston Marshall, wrote the lyrics to this tune.

5. Ghosts That We Knew 
This live version of “Ghosts That We Knew” is magical. The extra violin solo, the soft blue lighting, and everything else about this performance is beautiful.

6. The Banjolin Song
A simple and fun song, “The Banjolin Song” is one of Mumford’s first tunes. While it can’t be found on any of their full-lengths, it is present on their 2008 EP, Love Your Ground. This is one of my favorite videos from M&S, it features multi-talented artist Johnny Flynn playing the fiddle, a street performance of “The Banjolin Song,” and “Awake My Soul” with some French-translated lyrics. Tres jolie!

7. Below My Feet
One of the most quoted numbers from the band, “Below My Feet” is an optimistic tune with wonderful lyrics that can be found painted on canvases and stamped on bracelets throughout the Etsy world. “Keep my eyes to serve/ my hands to learn.”

8. For Those Below
Another song by banjo-player Winston Marshall; this time he’s even featured on lead vocals. A quiet and powerful tune.

9. I Will Wait
I remember waiting patiently to hear the first song off of Babel, and it was only last August that we got to hear this upbeat tune.  I Will Wait converted many radio-listeners to M&S fans. It was a great end of summer song and first taste of Babel.

10. Dust Bowl Dance
Critics claim that “Dust Bowl Dance” is one of Mumford’s best songs. Its loud, dark music is unique and differs a lot from the other songs on this list. Performed live, this song turns into a crazy jam session, as seen in the video below!
http://youtu.be/5FufPtgRqT8

What are your favorite Mumford & Sons songs? Are they helping to survive the hiatus?