I’ve long been a fan of country music. Let me clarify: I’m a fan of real country music. Much of what emanates from Nashville these days is more soft pop / rock than country. No, I’m talking about your Daddy’s country music. So that’s why I read with great interest a recent article in the local paper about the greatest country songs of all time. A couple of AP writers compiled their own Top 100 list. Their criteria: influence, longevity and, simply, how much they liked the song. I was surprised to see Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire at the top of their list. (My buddy Lawson would definitely agree!) So that got me thinking, what’s the greatest country song ever?
I’ll not bore you with my own Top 100 (I would honestly be hard pressed to compile a list that long), but I will offer you my Top 10. Tell me where you think I missed it.
10. Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys – Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson.
9. Uncle Pen – Bill Monroe & his Bluegrass Boys. Old school.
8. Country Boy – Ricky Skaggs. The vocals are OK, but this one makes the list for the pickin’.
7. Song of the South – Alabama. More recent than some of the others, I know. But this is the Alabama song they’ll still be playing 20 years from now.
6. Foggy Mountain Breakdown – Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs. I dare you to listen to this song and not tap your feet. Can’t be done.
5. Your Cheatin’ Heart – Hank Williams. Honestly, you could probably put 4 or 5 Hank songs here, but I’m limiting myself to one per artist. This one’s as good as any other.
4. Folsom Prison Blues – Johnny Cash. Don’t get me wrong; I love Ring of Fire. But Folsom was Cash’s first iconic song. This might’ve been the first song I ever learned.
3. You Never Even Called Me By My Name – David Allen Coe. Don’t tell Steve Goodman I ranked this one #3. The opening line of the final verse cracks me up every time.
2. Crazy – Patsy Cline. Sunny went through a Patsy Cline phase in college, and I’m thankful she did. Patsy is a supreme vocalist and she shines on this classic hit.
1. He Stopped Lovin’ Her Today – George Jones. Hands down, the most heart-wrenching country ballad ever.
already & not yet 
Great, great pick on your #1. I would have some Ronnie Milsap on that list but that’s just me.
Hard to argue with your list…but here are some that would be high on mine:”Mama Tried”- Merle Haggard”Streets Of Bakersfield”- Buck Owens”On The Other Hand”- Randy Travis”Here’s A Quarter”- Travis Tritt with Marty Stuart…although he’s so recent that we may be somewhat biased against him, some of Garth Brooks’ work should be considered here, as well, I believe.
no Achy Breaky?
What about “tear in my beer” or “if I die before I wake, feed Jake?” Kidding. As you can tell, I’m not a fan of country music, but I do enjoy Oak Ridge Boys or Alabama.
Great call, Allen. I love “Mama Tried”
Wow…great list. I have almost all of those on my iPod.
Milsap, eh? I remember hearing There’s A Stranger In My House over and over as a kid. Reminds me of going to the bowling alley. Random, I know.Allen, Never been a big Merle fan, but Mama is hard to argue with. If I were to develop a list of the greatest country kiss-off songs, Here’s A Quarter would definitely be there. I gave serious consideration to Garth (especially The Dance and Friends….
What about…”Amarillo by Morning” – George Strait”El Paso” – Marty RobbinsGrowing up in the 80’s, Strait was constantly on our stereo at home because my mom was (and still is) in love with him.My grandmother had a large collection of Marty Robbins LPs and when she passed away a few years ago they were given to me.
Wiz,Amarillo was my #11. Great song. Strait has a dozen songs that could’ve made the list. El Paso reminds me of being at Opryland.