27 Best Songs About Tennessee Ever

“Smoky Mountain Rain” by Ronnie Milsap

Song Year: 1980

Ronnie Milsap was one of the most popular country singers in the 1970s and 1980s. “Smoky Mountain Rain” is his best-known song, which became Tennessee’s eighth state song in 2010.

The song is about a man leaving Los Angeles to return to Tennessee. He wants to reunite with a former love, but when he calls her from the road, she isn’t there. Still, he continues hitchhiking to the state, even through the rain, because he’s determined to win her back.

“Tennessee Jed” by Grateful Dead

Song Year: 1972

Grateful Dead was a legendary jam band formed in California but best known for endlessly traveling the country. “Tennessee Jed” is a song about how much the singer loves to be in Tennessee, but he’s too busy drinking and playing music. He knows his life is on a bad path, but he doesn’t change it until he gets a letter telling him to return to Tennessee.

“Tennessee River Run” by Darryl Worley

Song Year: 2002

Darryl Worley is a singer and songwriter in Nashville, though he was born in Memphis. His song “Tennessee River Run” is about letting loose after a long week. He and his friends go to the Tennessee River to catch catfish, BBQ, and drink beer on the water.

The fun part about this song is the specificity. You can listen to the lyrics and find the same place to take your boat, a mile from the Pickwick dam near the Yellow Creek waterfall. Bring your speaker along so you can listen to this song while enjoying the water.

“Murder on Music Row” by George Strait and Alan Jackson

Song Year: 1999

This song title will grab your attention immediately. George Strait and Alan Jackson performed this duet, though it was originally done by Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time. The song takes a meta approach to the country music scene, claiming it’s murder when country-pop soars to the top of the charts, sullying the traditional country sound.

“Down in Tennessee” by John Anderson

Song Year: 1985

John Anderson is a country singer who got his start in 1977, earning more than 40 Billboard singles since then. “Down in Tennessee” is one of his best-known songs, written almost 15 years after he moved to Nashville to make it big.

The song is about this move, with the singer calling an old love who was in New York on a honeymoon while he’s feeling depressed in Tennessee. It’s a clever play on words since he’s down in Tennessee compared to her geographic location while also feeling emotionally down.

“Dixieland Delight” by Alabama

Song Year: 1983

Alabama is a famous country band that burst onto the scene in the late 1960s and still tours. “Dixieland Delight” is one of their most famous songs, telling a story about what it’s like to drive through the middle of nowhere in Tennessee on a Saturday night.

The song title refers to the singer’s love who’s driving around with him. They’re not going anywhere special, just spending time together before parking in the moonlight.

“Crazy Town” by Jason Aldean

Song Year: 2009

Jason Aldean is an enormous current music star on the country scene, and his song “Crazy Town” documents some of his journey in the industry. The song tells the story of a singer coming to Nashville with his guitar, competing with everyone else who wants to make it big.

Though the city is a crazy town, you can push yourself to keep playing and make the bare minimum in tips until you make it big. By the time you have millions, you can hardly remember what it was like to be poor and struggling to become a star.

Top Songs About Tennessee, Final Thoughts

Whether it’s a songs about whiskey or one about a relationship, these songs about Tennessee offer something for everyone. The songs show you different aspects of the state, cities, and people who live there. If you’ve ever wanted to visit Tennessee, cue up these songs in a custom playlist and get a taste of what it’s like.