27 Best Songs About Kentucky
Contents
11. Bourbon in Kentucky by Dierks Bentley
Song year: 2013
Dierks Bentley gives you “Bourbon in Kentucky” for those who have been hurt by love before. Love is a beautiful emotion, but things don’t always work out. Bourbon in Kentucky is part of a “Rise” album released after Dierks lost his father. Consequently, it is filled with dark emotions bound to stir your soul.
Right off the bat, Dierks Bentley tells you that the answer to getting through a heartbreak won’t always be found at the bottom of a bottle, which in this case, is bourbon.
12. Mountain Parkway by Sundy Best
Song year: 2013
Sundy Best has been at the forefront of modern heartfelt country songs since its humble beginnings. The Mountain Parkway is another banger to bring out the best memories of driving through the Kentucky countryside.
From the yellow school buses you are bound to meet to the sprawling greenery with livestock grazing lazily, Mountain Parkway takes you back (if you have lived in Kentucky before) or takes you to (if you plan on visiting or even moving to Kentucky) the nature on the one fourteen.
13. It’s Got To Be Kentucky For Me by Tom T. Hall
Song year: 1976
Faster Horses, the album from which Tom T. Hall’s famous “It’s Got To Be Kentucky For Me” debuted in 1976, and with it came a special surprise for the lovers of Kentucky. Like having your own words said through the voice of a talented singer, Tom T. Hall captured the passion that Kentucky attaches to everyone who walks the brier.
In the song, Tom talks about different places, including the big apple, California (and its glorious sunshine), Tennessee, and many others, but emphasizes that the rivers and trees in Kentucky are where his heart is home. Just like Tom, many others quickly fall in love with the Southern charm that is part and parcel of Kentucky.
14. Coal Miner’s Daughter by Loretta Lynn
Song year: 1971
Loretta Lynn was writing a song for the Osborne brothers when she realized the lyrics wouldn’t fit. Consequently, “Coal Miner’s Daughter” was born. This hot single would be Loretta Lynn’s first appearance on the Hot 100 list, where the song peaked at position 83. This song remains relevant to Kentucky as it is an autobiography that paints an exceedingly accurate picture of the tribulations of the coal mines.
This song would later infuse new talent and styles, including the mastery of Miranda Lambert, but would forever remain a worthy tribute to Loretta.
15. Moonshiner by Bob Dylan
Song year: 1963
The word moonshine often gets linked to the South, and this is even truer for Kentucky. Bob Dylan, in this case, perfectly portrays the life of the bottle, explaining the path of being a moonshiner for a staggering 17 years. Moonshiner, therefore, feels like receiving the wisdom of a stranger in a dimly lit pub in Kentucky.
Enough has been said for the finer things in life, but Bob Dylan strips it down to the bare minimum, talking about food, water, and drink when you are hungry and thirsty. The moonshiner picked his poison, and he can’t imagine anything other than whiskey being the death of him.
16. You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive by Darrell Scott
Song year: 1997
Many versions of “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive” succeeded the original version written by Darrell Scott, but none can match the authenticity that Scott instilled in his song. If you’ve been to Kentucky before, then it is most likely that you’ve heard of Harlan County. As the name suggests, “you’ll never leave Harlan alive” describes the inescapability of the place.
Straight out of the album Aloha From Nashville, Darrell Scott describes the hopelessness of living in the area, riddling the song with bits of his personal life and struggles that most other versions leave out. Despite the song’s somber mood, it remains a delight.
17. Kentucky in the Morning by Tom Hall
Song year: 1969
Tom Hall’s love for nature is nothing new, and his love for Kentucky has been expressed through many of his songs, but “Kentucky in the Morning” is one of those songs that excels in both of these facets of his unique blend between country and bluegrass music. “Kentucky in the Morning” describes waking up to the beautiful scenery that is part of the Kentucky landscape.
18. Kentucky Woman by Neil Diamond
Song year: 1967
Another Billboard Hot 100 song, “Kentucky Woman,” enjoyed an envious peak of 38 in 1967 when it came out. However, it led to a rift between Neil Diamond and his record company which he would later leave for the same reason. Despite a tumultuous history, “Kentucky Woman” went ahead to thrill fans nationwide. Neil said it was incredibly well-received among teenage girls, and it is easy to imagine why.
Dedicated to an unknown Kentucky woman, the song follows the passion for a woman with a captivating smile and lovely character but an unremarkable physical appearance. “Kentucky Woman” has several covers, including one sung by Elvis, which delighted Diamond.
19. Blue Moon of Kentucky by Bill Monroe
Song year: 1947
Bill Monroe was an excellent songwriter, and “Blue Moon of Kentucky” is one of his golden Waltzes. Written in 1947, several artists performed it, but arguably one of the most notable performances was by the King of Rock, Elvis Presley. A simple song, the blue moon of Kentucky, describes the rising of a blue moon over Kentucky and the emotions it inspires in the character.
Elvis Presley’s performance may be up for debate in this song, but the beauty of the landscape under the blue moon in Kentucky is not.
20. Kentucky by the Osborne Brothers
Song year: 1969
The Osborne brothers were a duo born in the ‘50s, consisting of Bobby Osborne and Sonny Osborne. While Bobby was drafted into the army and sent off to fight the Korean War, Sonny worked under the wing of Bill Monroe, one of the most prolific bluegrass artists of all time. Finally, half a century of entertaining music came when the pair teamed up. “Kentucky” is one of those songs.