My "Attempt" at a Greatest Country Songs List

Combination of lyrical & musical excellence, influence, & historical significance. A certain amount of bluegrass, americana, country-rock, and alt-country allowed although I will steer clear of southern-rock.

(I have marked RE on songs I know require an explanation for their position, which I will be adding soon)

1. Willie Nelson: "Red Headed Stranger" (1975)-----------RE

2. Tammy Wynette: "Stand By Your Man" (1969)-----------RE

Also: "D.I.V.O.R.C.E."


3. Hank Williams: "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" (1949)

Also: "Your Cheatin' Heart"

4. David Allen Coe: "You Never Even Called Me By My Name" (1974)

Also: "Spotlight" (1976)


5. Patsy Cline: "Crazy" (1961)

Also: "I Fall To Pieces"


6. Willis Alan Ramsey: "Ballad of Spider John" (1972)-----------RE

7. Gene Clark: "Life's Greatest Fool" (1974)----------RE

8. Johnny Cash: "I Walk The Line" (1957)

9. John Prine: "Sam Stone" (1971)----------RE

10. Lefty Frizzell: "If You've Got The Money (I've Got The Time)" (1950)

11. Bill Monroe: "With Body And Soul" (1969)---------RE

Also: "Blue Kentucky Moon"


12. Jimmie Rodgers: Standin' On The Corner (Blue Yodel No. 9) (1930)

13. George Jones: "Darlin'" (1974) --------RE

Also: "Things Have Gone To Pieces"


14. The Flying Burrito Brothers: "Sin City" (1969)---------RE

15. Charlie Rich: "Behind Closed Doors" (1973)-----------RE

Also: "The Most Beautiful Girl"


16. Bob Wills: "Faded Love" (1950)

Also: "New San Antonio Rose"


17. Waylon Jennings: "Good Hearted Woman" (1969)

Also: "Wurlitzer Prize"


18. Merle Haggard: "Today I Started Loving You Again" (1969)

19. Conway Twitty: "Hello Darlin'" (1970)

20. Ray Price: "For The Good Times" (1970)

21. Ernest Tubb: "Walking The Floor Over You" (1941) & Vern Gosdin: "Set 'Em Up Joe" (1988)--------RE

22. Tanya Tucker: "Delta Dawn" (1972)--------RE

23. Faron Young: "Hello Walls" (1962)

24. Carter Family: "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" (1935)

25. Johnny Cash: "Ring Of Fire" (1963)

26. Hank Thompson: "The Wild Side Of Life" (1952) & Kitty Wells: "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" (1952) ---------RE

27. George Jones: "Mr. Fool" (1959)--------RE

Also: "She Thinks I Still Care" & "Why Baby Why"


28. Eddy Arnold: "You Don't Know Me" (1955)

29. Tom T Hall: "The Year That Clayton Delaney Died" (1971)--------RE

Also: "(Old Dogs, Children and) Watermelon Wine" (1972)


30. Loretta Lynn: "Don't Come Home A Drinkin'" (1965)

Also: "Coal Miner's Daughter"



31. Porter Wagoner: "A Satisfied Mind" (1954)

Also: "The Last Thing On My Mind" (1967)


32. Buck Owens: "Act Naturally" (1963)

33. Michael Hurley (With The Unholy Modal Rounders, Jeffrey Fredericks & The Clamtones): "Slurf Song" (1975)--------RE

34. Jerry Jeff Walker: "Gettin' By" (1973)----------RE

35. Gram Parsons: "Return Of The Grievous Angel" (1974)----------RE

36. Hank Williams: "Move It On Over" (1947)

Also: "Hey Good Lookin'"


37. Willie Nelson: "Always On My Mind" (1981)

38. Tom T. Hall: "That's How I Got To Memphis" (1968)

39. Hank Snow: "I Don't Hurt Anymore" (1954)

Also: "I'm Movin' On" & "Ninety Miles An Hour (Down A Dead End Street)"


40. John Prine: "Angel From Montgomery" (1971)---------RE

Also: "Fish And Whistle"


41. Louvin Brothers: "When I Stop Dreaming" (1955)

42. Randy Travis: "Forever And Ever, Amen" (1987)---------RE

43. Webb Pierce: "I Ain't Never" (1959)

44. Bobby Bare: "500 Miles Away From Home" (1963)

Also: "Marie Laveau" & "The Streets Of Baltimore"


45. Ray Price: "I'll Be There (If You Ever Want Me)" (1954)

46. Waylon Jennings: "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way" (1975)

Also: "I'm A Ramblin' Man"


47. Emmylou Harris: "Evangeline" (1981)------RE

48. Guy Clark: "LA Freeway" (1975)-------RE

49. Charlie Walker: "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down" (1958)

50. Moe Bandy: "It Was Always So Easy (To Find An Unhappy Woman)" (1975)

-------Another 50ish To come