Chris' Top Country Songs of the Decade

It’s that time of year again and no I am not referencing another new Star Wars movie release. It’s the end of the year so people are making lists of their top movies, music, games, foods, dogs, etc. The lists are even bigger this year as it is the end of a decade. I thought I would throw myself into the fray by making a list of things I know quite a bit about. I decided to do my top country music songs of the 2010s decade. As most of you know, I worked in the country music industry for several years during this past decade (Link to my tour photography website).

This list is completely subjective and isn’t based on sales or radio performance. I picked songs based on originality, lyrics, and the change they brought to the genre. I tried to stick with released singles because they are the most well known songs. Just a forewarning, I tend to like what Dolly Parton referred to as “sad ass songs.” You’ve been warned. 

Lady Antebellum - Hello World (2010)

An incredibly powerful song about losing your faith in the world until you’re reminded that your family is your entire world. Who can relate to that? Everyone.

“Sometimes I forget what living's for
And I hear my life through my front door
And I'll breathe it in
Oh I'm home again
I see my wife, little boy, little girl
Hello world”

Miranda Lambert - The House that Built Me (2010)

This is the first of my sad ass songs. The House that Built Me is an incredible song about returning to your roots to find healing. This could easily be one of the best songs of the decade in all genres. 

“Won't take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me.”

Jason Aldean - Dirt Road Anthem (2011)

Full disclosure that my former boss, Colt Ford, cowrote this song. Regardless of your stance on “hick-hop,” country rap, or rap in general, you cannot deny this song forever changed country music. A lot of country fans felt that modern day pop country was not resonating with where they stood in life. Dirt Road Anthem was one of the first songs to reach out to that demographic and say “this song was written by people just like you.” 

“Memory lane up in the headlights
Has got me reminiscing on the good times
I'm turning off the real life, driving, that's right
I'm hittin' easy street in mud tires”

Eric Church - Springsteen (2011)

I, like most people, have the ability to be taken back to a specific place or time whenever I hear a song. Springsteen is such a great song about attaching songs to memories. This would be the start of the world realizing the lyrical power of Eric Church.

“Funny how a melody sounds like a memory
Like the soundtrack to a July Saturday night, Springsteen”

Kacey Musgraves - Merry Go ‘Round (2013)

I feel like Kacey is such an outlier in country music. She’s finally in the last few years getting recognized for the amazing talent that she is. Merry Go ‘Round is my favorite song she’s ever released. I’m sure it’s partly because it’s a sad ass song, but it’s also brilliant!

“Mamas hooked on Mary Kay
Brothers hooked on Mary Jane
And daddy's hooked on Mary two doors down
Mary, Mary quite contrary
We get bored so we get married
And just like dust we settle in this town
On this broken merry go 'round and 'round and 'round we go”

Florida Georgia Line - Dirt (2014)

Florida Georgia Line blew up 2012 and 2013 with a smash hit called Cruise. It was the start of the “bro country” fad and songs like Cruise, This is How We Roll, Get Your Shine On, and Round Here from FGL’s first album rocketed the band and “bro country” to the top of the charts. There was a lot of speculation how FGL would continue their success going into their 2nd album. With Dirt, FGL spun the “bro country” narrative around and went with a much more traditional country song about life being surrounded by dirt.

“You came from it,
And some day you'll return to it”

Tim McGraw (Featuring Faith Hill) - Meanwhile Back at Mamas (2014)

I was a huge Tim McGraw fan in the 90’s, but his songs in the 2000’s didn’t do nearly as much for me. Meanwhile Back at Mamas was the song that changed that. The mid-tempo, train shuffle beat song about not fitting into the larger world and wanting to go back home struck a chord. It’s just a beautiful song.

“Funny the things you thought you'd never miss
In a world gone crazy as this”

Little Big Town - Girl Crush (2015)

Written by an all female powerhouse of writers (Liz Rose / Lori McKenna / Hillary Lee Lindsey), Girl Crush is the only “controversial” song on my list. It wrongly caused quite the hubbub when it was released to radio. Stations stupidly pulled the song because some listeners ignorantly claimed the song was about and promoted lesbianism. The song is actually about a girl obsessing over another girl that has, stole, or is having an affair with her lover. It’s a haunting song that gives me goose bumps every time I hear it.

“I want her long blonde hair
I want her magic touch
Yeah, 'cause maybe then
You'd want me just as much
I got a girl crush”

Chris Stapleton - Tennessee Whiskey (2015)

Even though this song has been so overplayed, there is no denying the vocal and lyrical prowess of Chris Stapleton. He’s been a powerhouse in Nashville for years, writing songs for Thomas Rhett, Kenny Chesney, George Straight, and basically anyone else that’s every been at the CMA awards. It’s nice to see him get some recognition as an artist. 

“I used to spend my nights out in a barroom
Liquor was the only love I've known
But you rescued me from reachin' for the bottom
And brought me back from being too far gone”

Tyler Farr - A Guy Walks Into a Bar (2015)

Tyler Farr’s career hasn’t taken off the way it should. He’s had some great songs, but none as good as A Guy Walks Into a Bar. It’s such an original take on such a common joke introduction. I love it.

“A guy walks into a bar, orders a drink
Sees a girl that catches his eye
Asks her if she wants another
They fall for each other and end up lovers
They laugh, cry, hold on tight, make it work for a little while
Then one night her taillights fade out into the dark
And a guy walks into a bar”

Maren Morris - Sugar (2016)

In my eyes Maren Morris was the start of the opposite of a “bro country” revolution (sis-country, girl-country, woman-country). She brought the song prospective back to the woman and empowered her to be more than a “pretty little thing riding shotgun” like in most “bro country” songs. Sugar is such a fun and energetic song with awesome production.  

“Baby would you be my sugar, sugar?
Make my heart race, even on a good day
You make the world taste better, better
Good on anything, want you on everything”

RaeLynn - Love Triangle (2016)

Sad ass song alert! Divorce is such a heart breaking topic, especially when children are involved. RaeLynn wrote a beautifully autobiographical song about the heartache of being torn between two parents. This one gets me every single time.

“And some mommas and daddies
Ran outta love in ninety-four
And some mommas and daddies
Don't even talk no more
And some mommas and daddies
Let their heart strings tear and tangle
And some of us get stuck
And some of us grow up
In a love triangle”

Kane Brown (Featuring Lauren Alaina) - What Ifs (2017)

I feel like country music (and honestly all other genres) gets stuck in a rut every few years until a fresh sound comes along and opens it back up. Kane Brown’s What Ifs is one of the songs for me. It just sounds fresh. Kane and Lauren’s voices sound so good together.

“What if I loved all these what ifs away”

Eric Church - Some Of It (2018)

It’s not a shock to anyone that has met me in person, but I am a huge Eric Church fan. My wife introduced me to Eric years ago and I fell in love with the Chief record. I think he is one of the most authentic and sincere artists in country music today. He puts on a hell of a live show that focuses entirely on the music. There are zero theatrics. It’s just 3 hours of an artist pouring his heart out on stage every single night. It certainly doesn’t hurt that Eric is probably one of the greatest lyricists in country music in the last decade. I was completely stunned that Some of It didn’t win Song of the Year at this year’s CMA Awards. It’s by far one of the greatest country songs of all time. 

“When you can't take it slow
'Cause time sure won't
What really makes you a man
Is being true to her 'til your glass runs out of sand

Some of it you learn the hard way
Some of it you read on a page
Some of it comes from heartbreak
Most of it comes with age
And none of it ever comes easy
A bunch of it you maybe can't use
I know I don't probably know what I think I do
But there's somethin' to
Some of it”