Folk music of Mizoram has a mysterious origin. However some couplets were developed during the settlement of Thantlang in Burma (1300-1400 AD). The folk songs developed during this period were dar hla; Bawh hla, Hla do; Nauawih hla. Compared with the folk songs of Thantlang and Lentlang settlement, the songs of later period are more developed in form and contents. Songs of this period are named after the composers.

The Mizo songs are classified into on the basis of the original system of classification. Mizo`s have about one hundred types of folksongs. However it can be classified into ten types and they are as follows:

Bawh Hla is a cry that is raised by the warriors when they are returning from successful attack. The warriors chant this song in order to show his superiority over the enemy as well as let the people know that a successful attack had taken place. Only the killer of the enemy can chant Bawh Hla.

Hlado is also a kind of cry that is raised by the hunters when a successful hunting has taken place. This can be chanted on the spot, or on the way home, or before entering the village, or on the celebration of successful hunting.

Thiam hla and dawi hla is basically invocation and incantation that are chanted by the Priests and the witch while performing religious ceremonies.

Puipun Hla are songs that are named after festive occasions. People sing together that is also with dancing.

Lengzem Zai are love songs that have no distinctive form.

There are some forms of verses that are named after tribes like Sailo zai, saivate zai and so on. There are some songs that are named after villages like Lumtui zai, Dar lung zai and so on. Some songs are named after the modulation of the voice like Kawrnu zai, Zai nem, Vai zawi zai, Puma zai and so on. There are songs that are named after individuals, generally after the composer of the song. Some of the songs are named after various verse tunes and some are also assigned names of beautiful women or hero of a tribe.