6 classic country songs to revisit
Country music – you either love it or you hate it. At least, that’s what it seems today. As for the classics, they’ll never go out of style. These timeless country songs made our hearts ache and our spirits soar with their honest lyrics and soulful strumming.
“King of the Road” by Roger Miller
“I’m a man of means by no means,” croons Miller in this 1964 tale of a vagabond who, despite having no money rejoices in his freedom as “king of the road”. It reached number one in the UK and Norway and number four in the US. The Proclaimers famously covered the song in 1990, but you simply can’t beat the original.
“Jolene” by Dolly Parton
Whether you love her or hate her, there’s no denying the catchiness of this heartfelt tune. It’s written from the perspective of a jilted woman who confronts “Jolene”, pleading “please don’t take my man”. Though it was moderately successful when it was released in 1973, “Jolene” has become a classic since, covered by dozens of other artists.
“I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” by Hank Williams
This classic 1949 track was originally written by Williams as a spoken word piece, but we’re glad he decided otherwise. The emotional lyrics, inspired by his relationship with wife Audrey Sheppard, certainly tug at the heartstrings. Elvis Presley referred to it as “probably the saddest song I’ve ever heard”.
“Stand by Your Man” by Tammy Wynette
Is it in your head just by reading the title? Wynette’s 1968 song about a wife’s devotion to her husband wasn’t a hit among feminists of the time, but it certainly was with everyone else. Widely regarded as one of the most covered songs in country music, “Stand by Your Man” reached number one in the UK, Ireland, Netherlands and Belgium and charted in the US and Australia.
“I Walk the Line” by Johnny Cash
We couldn’t write about country music without mentioning Cash, could we? Certainly one of his most recognisable songs, 1956’s “I Walk the Line” was a “pledge of devotion” and fidelity to his new wife, given that Cash admitted to being “tempted” while on tour. In 2004, it was ranked by Rolling Stone at number 30 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
“Crazy” by Patsy Cline
Written by the legendary Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline took “Crazy” to the top 10 in the US thanks to her vocal talent perfectly matching the complex melody of the 1961 song. In 1993, Nelson said it was his favourite song recorded by another person, calling it “a lot of magic”.
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