# What are your top 10 favorite country songs of all time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 2, 2005, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-10-favorite-country-songs-of-all-time/324400 "2005-10-02T01:13:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-10-favorite-country-songs-of-all-time/324400/21 "2005-10-02T15:55:05Z")
> [@John Carter of Mars](#): > > Sundown, Gordon Lightfoot Gordon Lightfoot is country? I always thought of him as easy listening or something. If we can count Gordon Lightfoot, I need to change my list to include “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” “Circle of Steel,” and “If You Could Read My Mind.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dbygawdcapn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dbygawdcapn/32/3995_2.png) [@dbygawdcapn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dbygawdcapn)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-10-favorite-country-songs-of-all-time/324400/22 "2005-10-02T17:02:36Z")
In No Particular Order; 1. Last Train Home - Doughnut Girl 2. Gram Parsons - Hickory Wind 3. Robbie Fulks - Lies 4. Jerry Jeff Walker - A Night Rider’s Lament 5. Tennessee Ernie Ford - I’m Hog-tied Over You 6. Jimmy Rodgers - In The Jailhouse Now 7. Skeeter Davis - End Of The World 8. Guy Clark - L.A. Freeway 9. Johnny Cash - I’ve Been Everywhere 10. Maddox Brothers and Rose - That’ll Learn Ya, Durn Ya ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-10-favorite-country-songs-of-all-time/324400/23 "2005-10-02T17:03:14Z")
> [@don't ask](#): > > _Copperhead Road_ - Steve Earle > _By The Time I Get To Phoenix_ - Glen Campbell > \*Hickory Wind \* - BR549 > _El Paso_ - Marty Robbins > \*King Of The Road \* - Roger Miller > _Oh, Lonesome Me_ - Don Gibson > \*A Thousand Miles From Nowhere \* - Dwight Yoakam > _Sunday Morning Comin’ Down_ - Johnny Cash > _I Walk The Line_ - Johnny Cash > _Ring of Fire_ - Johnny Cash > _Jambalaya_ - Hank Williams Sr. > _I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry_ - Hank Williams, Sr. > \*Your Cheatin’ Heart \* - Hank Williams, Sr. > _I Fall To Pieces_ - Patsy Cline > _Crazy_ - Patsy Cline > _Me and Bobby McGee_ - Janice Joplin or Roger Miller or Kris Kristoferson That is exactly my list, except for _You Ain’t Woman Enough to Take my Man - Loretta Lynn_ instead of _By The Time I Get To Phoenix_ - Glen Campbell ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-10-favorite-country-songs-of-all-time/324400/24 "2005-10-02T17:05:22Z")
> [@dbygawdcapn](#): > > 1. Skeeter Davis - End Of The World Dammit. I gotta insert that somewhere. I guess I’ll toss out \*Jambalaya \* - Hank Williams Sr. (Why is this list so much harder than the same list in rock for me?) ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-10-favorite-country-songs-of-all-time/324400/25 "2005-10-02T17:29:15Z")
Hmm. Similar dilemma to other dopers and doperettes: Foggy Mountain Breakdown-Flatt & Scruggs Lovesick Blues-Hank Williams, Sr. Can I Sleep in your Arms-Willie Nelson Do You Know You are my Sunshine-Statler Brothers I’m Looking for Blue Eyes-Jessi Colter Put another Log on the Fire-Waylon Jennings You’d Make an Angel Wanna Cheat-The Kendalls Circle Driveway-Don Williams I Don’t Care (If Tomorrow Never Comes)-Hank Williams, Jr. Daydreams About Night Things-Ronnie Milsap ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-10-favorite-country-songs-of-all-time/324400/26 "2005-10-02T19:04:32Z")
In no order… Guided By Wires - Neko Case I Can’t Hold Myself In Line - Merle Haggard Sound of Laughter - Johnny Cash Crazy - Patsy Cline Lovesick Blues - Hank Williams Sr. Sin City - Flying Burrito Brothers One Morning - Gillian Welch Time To Get A Gun - Fred Eaglesmith Kiss Of Death - Split Lip Rayfield Passenger Side - Wilco ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-10-favorite-country-songs-of-all-time/324400/27 "2005-10-02T19:59:35Z")
> [@mamboman](#): > > Let’s see - we got drinkin’, cheatin’, killin’ and drivin’ trucks. Thats about what you need isn’t it? Not totally---- [David Allan Coe voice] "WELL, A FRIEND OF MINE NAMED STEVE GOODMAN WROTE THAT SONG AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS THE PERFECT COUNTRY & WESTERN SONG. I WROTE HIM BACK A LETTER AND I TOLD HIM IT WAS NOT THE PERFECT COUNTRY & WESTERN SONG BECAUSE HE HADN’T SAID ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT MAMA, OR TRAINS, OR TRUCKS, OR PRISON, OR GETTIN’ DRUNK. WELL HE SAT DOWN AND WROTE ANOTHER VERSE TO THE SONG AND HE SENT IT TO ME, AND AFTER READING IT, I REALIZED THAT MY FRIEND HAD WRITTEN THE PERFECT COUNTRY & WESTERN SONG. AND I FELT OBLIGED TO INCLUDE IT ON THIS ALBUM. THE LAST VERSE GOES LIKE THIS HERE: [/end spoken lines] To read the rest of the lyrics, you need to click on the link. [YOU NEVER EVEN CALLED ME BY MY NAME - Lyrics - International Lyrics Playground](http://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/y/youneverevencalledmebymyname.shtml) I’d sing it to you, but haven’t had enough to drink yet today. ---
**Author:** ![Casual\_Male](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Casual\_Male](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casual_Male)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-10-favorite-country-songs-of-all-time/324400/28 "2005-10-02T20:40:05Z")
Sorry, can’t do it. I have to add another 10. There are so many classics, and it’s a shame you never hear them on the radio anymore. 1. Mark Chestnutt - I’ll Think of Something 2. Charlie Daniels - Long Haired Country Boy 3. Ricky Van Shelton - Keep It Between the Lines 4. George Strait - Baby’s Gotten Good at Goodbye 5. Vern Gosdin - Set 'Em Up Joe 6. Travis Tritt - Country Ain’t Country No More 7. Travis Tritt - Here’s A Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares) 8. Travis Tritt & Marty Stuart - The Whiskey Ain’t Workin’ Anymore 9. Moe Bandy - Soft Lights and Hard Country Music 10. Jeff Carson - The Car **This is the only song to ever make me cry** Ok, that’s it. No more from me. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-10-favorite-country-songs-of-all-time/324400/29 "2005-10-02T21:20:06Z")
How about 5 country songs, and then 5 bluegrass songs. 1. Lyin’ Here With Linda on my Mind-Conway Twitty 2. Only Make Believe-Conway Twitty(when country was part of rock and roll) 3. Crazy Arms-Ray Price(the version before he appeared on Johnny Cash and had violins backing him. When he still sang through his nose. I’ve got the vinyl. 4. Hello Walls-Farin Young, written by Willie Nelson 5. Golden Rings-George Jones and Tammy Wynette Bluegrass 6. Knoxville Girl(you _have_ to hear the Stanleys sing this to appreciate it) 7. How Mountain Girls Can Love-by anyone 8. Little Georgia Rose(Seldom Scene version) 9. Footprints in the Snow-by Bill Monroe, of course 10. Two Little Boys-Country Gentleman Version. Charlie Waller, w/ John Duffy pre-Seldom Scene. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-10-favorite-country-songs-of-all-time/324400/30 "2005-10-02T21:35:57Z")
Mostly newer stuff, as I haven’t been into country too long: **The Dance** Garth Brooks **Just Another Day in Paradie** Phil Vasser **Great Day to Be Alive** Travis Tritt **Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American)** Toby Keith (_this song makes me laugh every. single. time I hear it)_ **Somebody’s Hero** - Jamie O’Neal **I Hope You Dance** Lee Ann Womack **She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy** Kenny Chesny (_Also always makes me laugh)_ **I Should Have Been a Cowboy** Toby Keith **Beer for My Horses** Toby Keith and Willy Nelson **Streets of Bakersfield** Dwight Yokum and Buck Owens _(Hey, I gotta give a nod to the local boys! 😃 )_ ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-10-favorite-country-songs-of-all-time/324400/31 "2005-10-02T22:14:54Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Bluegrass Cheater! Cheater! Of course, if we throw in bluegrass it’s even more difficult because, dammit, I like every damned bluegrass song ever sung, plus all the ones that aren’t. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-10-favorite-country-songs-of-all-time/324400/32 "2005-10-02T22:32:03Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Of course, if we throw in bluegrass it’s even more difficult because, dammit, I like every damned bluegrass song ever sung, plus all the ones that aren’t. Then you need to come to the Clevedope 2006. At **elmwood’s**. I’ll even sing to you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-10-favorite-country-songs-of-all-time/324400/33 "2005-10-02T22:38:42Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > I’ll even sing to you. 🙂 Or not. :eek: I never considered that it might drive you away. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-10-favorite-country-songs-of-all-time/324400/34 "2005-10-02T22:43:55Z")
Heck-I prolly cheated by including Flatt & Scruggs in my list-they’re more bluegrass than country anyway. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-10-favorite-country-songs-of-all-time/324400/35 "2005-10-02T23:26:08Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Or not. :eek: I never considered that it might drive you away. Are you _kidding_? Be careful or you’ll end up with a stalker. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-10-favorite-country-songs-of-all-time/324400/36 "2005-10-03T01:27:37Z")
Moving thread, pickup trucks, hound dogs and all, from IMHO to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-10-favorite-country-songs-of-all-time/324400/37 "2005-10-03T02:22:49Z")
> [@mamboman](#): > > Is it just me or this this the most unbelievably sad song Williams ever wrote? I heard this when I was 9 years old and I burst into tears after it finished. Poor ole’ Kaw Liga, eh? > > mm Kaw-Liga can be as sad as you want it to be. Ol’ Hank came to a place on a lake near here, called Kowaliga Beach, back in the ‘40’s. In one weekend he wrote "Your Cheatin’ Heart", and inspired by a wooden indian at a store there, wrote “Kaw-Liga”. He still had time to get himself thrown into the Tallapoosa County jail on a Drunk and Disorderly charge. Somewhere around here I’ve got a copy of the newspaper story, complete with a picture of Hank in the jail, wearing no shirt, jeans and a straw hat, staring at the camera and clearly stoned. It’s a classic. > [@Misnomer](#): > > Gordon Lightfoot is country? I always thought of him as easy listening or something. If we can count Gordon Lightfoot, I need to change my list to include “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” “Circle of Steel,” and “If You Could Read My Mind.” I wouldn’t say that all of Gordon Lightfoot’s stuff is country. But to me, “Sundown” is clearly country, as is “Ten Degrees and Getting Colder”. “Edmund Fitzgerald”, no so country but still a great song. YMMV, of course. 🙂 And HEY! Some people are cheatin’ and listin’ 12 or even 20 songs!!! What’s with that? Can I add “Here’s a Quarter”, “Lying Here With Linda On My Mind”, “Nobody Answers When I Call Your Name”, some Johnny Cash and,and, BLUEGRASS??? We’d need a whole 'nother thread. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-10-favorite-country-songs-of-all-time/324400/38 "2005-10-03T02:24:34Z")
“Boy Named Sue” (Cash/Silverstein) “Ghost Riders in the Sky” (Jones) “Big Bad John” (Dean) “Uneasy Rider” (Daniels) “Georgia On My Mind” (Carmichael/Gorell as performed by Charles) “Stand By Your Man” (Wynette) “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” (Williams) “King of the Road” (Miller) “Wabash Cannonball” (Acuff) “I Fall to Pieces” (Cline) ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-10-favorite-country-songs-of-all-time/324400/39 "2005-10-03T02:39:07Z")
In no particular order: Evis- “Don’t Cry Daddy” Johnny Horton-“Battle of New Orleans” Marty Robbins-“El Paso” Kenny Chesney-“There Goes My Life” Randy Travis-“Three Wooden Crosses” Alan Jackson-“Monday Morning Church” Cowboy Troy-“If You Don’t Wanna Love Me” (The song is ok, but I am in love with the woman’s voice) Allison Krausse-“A Living Prayer” Keith Urban-“You’ll Think of Me” Braid Paisley and Allison Krausse-“Whiskey Lullabye” Wow, finding only ten was hard. ---
**Author:** ![tripthicket](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripthicket/32/297_2.png) [@tripthicket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tripthicket)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-10-favorite-country-songs-of-all-time/324400/40 "2005-10-03T02:54:09Z")
\ Well, let’s see what I can throw out. _Heard It In A Love Song_ - Marshall Tucker Band _Fire On The Mountain_ - Marshall Tucker Band _San Antonio Stroll_ - Tanya Tucker _Amarillo By Morning_ - George Strait _She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful_ - Sammy Kershaw _Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On_ - Mel McDaniel _The Good Stuff_ - Kenny Chesney _We’ll Sing In The Sunshine_ - Gale Garnett _Hello Darling_ - Conway Twitty _Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)_ - Garth Brooks [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-10-favorite-country-songs-of-all-time/324400.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-10-favorite-country-songs-of-all-time/324400.md?page=3)