Some of the Best Country Songs Ever Written

Ahhh country songs! They make us cry, laugh, fall in love, get angry—sometimes all at the same time. Throughout the history of country music, many songs have stood out for very different reasons. Some became famous because of the beauty of the vocals, the theme, the exquisite lyrics, the unforgettable melody, or even the political impact they have created. Despite the differences in sub-genres such as modern, traditional, or even pop-tinged country ditties, these songs have definitely struck a chord with country music fans all across Northern America.

What does it take for a country song to be considered a good one? Sometimes, even the writer would have no idea and will only know so once the record has hit the market. Meanwhile, there are other writers who really sit down and purposefully write a hit record. No matter the origin, good country songs are here to stay, as long as great artists are available to give life to these words set to music. From love songs to political anthems, let us take a look at some of the bets ones the genre has ever produced.

The Dance- Garth Brooks (1990)
Certainly, Garth Brooks is one of the iconic legends of the genre. His impact and credibility as a musician, singer, and songwriter have cemented his status as one of the country superstars the genre has ever produced. This song particularly captured patriotic sentiments among music fans because of its theme of people who have sacrificed their lives pursuing a great dream. To emphasize this theme, the accompanying video featured notable American icons including JFK, champion Bull rider Lane Frost, the crew from the Space Shuttle ‘Challenger,’ and Martin Luther King, Jr., among others.

Stand By Your Man- Tammy Wynette (1968)
“And if you love him, oh be proud of him / ‘Cause after all he’s just a man,” so goes the main line of the song. Although it was largely rebuked by feminists for its allegedly anti-women’s liberation themes mainly due to the misconstrued meaning of the song, Wynette defended it by saying that, in fact, the lyrics are more about women who are in love with their men and are willing to overlook their flaws and imperfections. Owing to its huge popularity, this country song stayed at No. 1 on the U.S. country charts for three weeks.

Crazy- Patsy Cline (1962)
Cline picked up this song and worked with producer Owen Bradley who arranged the song as a soulful ballad of undying love when singer Billy Walker turned down this Willie Nelson-penned song. Ironically, this song was initially hated by Cline who tried to sing it according to the quirky vocal stylings of Nelson. However, it ultimately became Cline’s most popular song to date.

Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)- Toby Keith (2001)
Probably one of the most controversial songs the genre has ever produced, this was an anthemic song written by outspoken Oklahoma native Keith, this song was specifically written to commemorate the patriotism of Keith’s late father. In time, it has become an anthem of sorts to US Soldiers everywhere courtesy of its lyrics.