Traditional Christmas Songs, Celtic Style

Christmas songs are classics!  However, if you play a song too much, even a classic, it becomes old and tired. A good solution is to listen to new versions of your favorite classics.  Below you will find 50 traditional Christmas songs played in a Celtic style.


The Napster playlist is here.
The Spotify playlist is here.
The Youtube playlist is here.

1. "Air A Chiad Latha Den Nollaig (12 Days of Christmas)" by Fiona Mackenzie
2. "The Angel Gabriel" by Crimson Ensemble
3. "Angels We Have Heard on High" by Irish Rovers
4. "Auld Lang Syne" by The Columba Minstrels
5. "Away in a Manger" by Holiday Favorites
6. "Bring A Torch Jeanette, Isabella/Hewlitt's" by Rose and Thistle Band
7. "Carol of the Bells" by Celtic Woman
8. "Christmas in Killarney" by Irish Rovers
9. "Christmas in the Old Man's Hat" by Noel McLoughlin
10. "The Christmas Song" by Celtic Woman
11. "Coventry Carol" by David Huntsinger (Not on Youtube Playlist)
12 "Deck the Halls" by Dan Gibson's Solitudes
13. "Ding Dong! Merrily on High" by Boann's Clan
14.  "Do You Hear What I Hear?" by Orla Fallon
15. "The First Noel" by Bandari
16. "Frosty the Irish Snowman" by Marc Gunn
17. "Fum, Fum, Fum" by Michelle Amato
18. "Go Tell It On the Mountain" by Jonna Fahey
19. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" by The Chieftains
20. "Good Christian Men Rejoice" by David Huntsinger (Not on Youtube Playlist)
21. "Good King Wenceslas" by Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chant Choir
22. "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing/ Angels We Have Heard on High" by Nightnoise
23. "Have Yourself a Merry Christmas" by Celtic Woman
24. "Here We Come A-Wassailing" by Magpie Lane
25. "The Holly and the Ivy" by Kim Robertson
26. "I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day" by Cherish the Ladies
27. "I Saw Three Ships" by The Barra MacNeils
28. "In the Bleak Mid-Winter" by The Columba Minstrels
29. "Infant Holy" by Sarah Moore
30. "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" by Matt & Shannon Heaton
31. "Jingle Bells" by G. Phillips
32. "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" by Michelle Amata
33. "Joy to the World" by Holiday Favorites
34. "Let It Snow" by G. Phillips
35. "Little Drummer Boy" by G. Phillips
36. "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" by Kim Robertson
37. "Lully Lullay" by Nightnoise
38. "O Christmas Tree" by John St. John
39. "O Come Emmanuel" by The Celtic Ensemble
40. "Oh Come, All Ye Faithful" by Cherish the Ladies
41. "A Oiche Bheannaithe (Oh Holy Night)" by Mary McLaughlin
42. "O Little Town of Bethlehem" by Matt &Shannon Heaton
43. "O the Holly She Bears a Berry" by The Chieftains
44. "Pat-A-Pan" by John St. John.
45. "Silent Night" by The Gothard Sisters
46. "Silver Bells" by Holiday Favorites
47. "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" by The Columba Minstrels
48. "We Three Kings" by The Columba Minstrels
49. "What Child Is This?/ Greensleeves Jig/The Tongs By The Fire/ The Frost Is All Over" by Cherish the Ladies
50. "White Christmas" by The Munros

Unknown Christmas Songs A-Z

While the same Christmas songs seems to be played on repeat every year, there are some truly lovely songs that are just overlooked and never heard.  Here is an A-Z list of some beautiful (or at least unknown) Christmas songs that are worth a listen.

The Napster playlist is here.
The Spotify playlist is here.
The Youtube playlist is here.

1. "Ain't That a Rockin'" by Sally Jones
2. "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem" by Jasmine Commerce
3. "Christmas Mornings" by Richard Marx
4. "Dear Joseph" by Golden Bough
5. "Emmanuel" by Carolyn Cavanagh
6. "For Mary for Joseph" by The Barra MacNeils
7. "The Greatest Gift" by The Celts
8. "His Favorite Christmas Story" by Capital Lights
9. "It Must Have Been the Mistletoe" by Jana Petersen
10. "Joseph's Song" by Michael Card
11. "Kris Kringle" by Kate Rusby (Not on Spotify Playlist)
12. "Little Road To Bethlehem" by Shawn Colvin
13. "Merry Christmas Ho, Ho, Ho" by Ronnie Bowman, Sharon Skaggs (Not on Spotify Playlist)
14. "New York Christmas" by Amanda Droste
15. "One Bright Star" by Sarah Jarosz
16. "A Prayer for Christmas" by Jay Pothier
17. "A Quiet Christmas With You" by Snow Business (Not on Youtube  or Spotify playlist)
18. "Remember Me" by Daniel O'Donnell
19. "Santa Will Find You" by Mindy Smith
20. "The Three Great Ships" by Winter Harp Ensemble
21. "Underneath the Christmas Tree" by Ann Chaplin (Not on Spotify Playlist)
22. "Very Merry Christmas" by Zoe Bentley
23. "What Would Christmas Be?" by Na Leo Pilimehana (Not on Youtube playlist)
24. "Xmas Eve" by Penny Reign
25. "Your Present to Me" by Paul Scott (Not on Youtube or Spotify playlist)
26. "'Zat You, Santa Claus?" by Abney Park

Christmas in America

Christmas time is upon us which means that every mall, grocery store, and radio station from Alaska to Florida is playing Christmas music.  I like Christmas music just fine personally, but I know a lot of people who hate it simply because they hear the same old tired songs year after year after year.  However, I feel pretty confident that there will be many songs in this playlist you have never heard before (there were at least 2 in which I was the first person to ever watch the Youtube video).

In this playlist you will find a Christmas song for every state in the U.S.A. though I had to cheat with a few states and use popular cities.  Also, nobody celebrates Christmas in Utah or something, because I could not find a single Utah Christmas song (unless you count Utah Carol by Marty Robbins, which has a title that sounds like a Christmas song, but in reality has nothing to do with Christmas).  I just had to supplement Utah with the more generic "Desert" Christmas song.  If anybody knows of a Christmas song about Utah, please let me know.

The Napster playlist is here.
The Spotify playlist is here.
The Youtube playlist is here.


1. "Christmas in America" by Kenny Rogers
2. "An Alabama Moon for Christmas" by Scat Springs
3. "It's Christmas Every Day in Alaska" by Hank Thompson
4. "An Arizona Christmas" by Teri
5. "Arkansas Angel" by Dan Schafer
6. "California Christmas" by Leah Felder
7. "Colorado Christmas" by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
8. "Christmas in Connecticut" by Allison Demers
9. "Crossing the Delaware" by Danny O'Flaherty
10. "Another Florida Christmas" by Joe Rucker
11. "Georgia Christmas" by Diane Durrett
12. "Christmas in Hawaii" by Dunebilly
13. "Christmas in These Idaho Hills" by Braun Family
14. "Illinois Central Line" by Cody Wilder
15. "Christmas in Indiana" by Ernie Haase
16.  "Christmas in Iowa" by Mulberry Lane (Not in Napster playlist)
17. "December in Kansas" by Matt Crumpton (Not in Spotify  or Youtube playlist)
18. "Christmas in Kentucky" by Patricia Tarentino
19. "Louisiana Christmas" by Bill Niemi
20. "The Maine Christmas Song" by Laura Darrell
21. "Christmas in Baltimore" by Milkshake
22. "Boston Winter" by Greasy Grapes
23. "Michigan Christmas" by Brian d'Arcy James
24. "Minnesota Snow" by Mudlow
25. "Mississippi Christmas Eve" by Charlie Daniels
26. "Missouri Christmas Card" by Dierdre Jenkins
27. "Montana Winter" by Michelle Rivers
28. "Nebraska Snow" by The Hummingbirds
29. "Christmas in Nevada" by Willard Grant Conspiracy (Not in Spotify Playlist)
30. "Snowbound in New Hampshire" by Tony Smith
31. "Xmas in New Jersey" by Santa Sleigh Ride Shredders
32. "Christmas New Mexico" by Jerry Dean
33. "Christmas in New York" by Shilelagh Law
34. "It's a Carolina Christmas" by Michael Anthony Milton
35. "Dance of the Northern Lights (North Dakota Christmas)" by Deborah Keily Hanson
36. "Christmas in Ohio" by Chuck Wooke
37. "Christmas in Oklahoma" by Carter Sampson
38. "Oregon Snow" by Ky Burt
39. "Christmastime in Bethlehem, Pa" by Chris Bergson
40. "Holiday in Rhode Island" by The Softies
41. "Christmas in Carolina" by The Marshall Tucker Band
42. "Merry Christmas South Dakota" by The Rockford Mules
43. "Tennessee Christmas" by Alabama
44. "Christmas in Texas" by Asleep at the Wheel
45. "Christmas in the Desert" by Jazzrabbit (Not on Youtube playlist)
46. "Christmas in Vermont" by Dave Hall
47. "When It's Christmas In Virginia" by Michelle Nixon & Drive
48. "It's Christmas Eve in Washington" by Dana Spencer
49. "Christmas Time in West Virginia" by The Weber Brothers
50. "Christmas in Wisconsin" by The Mears Brothers
51. "Wyoming Christmas Time" by Saggy Bottom Boys
52. "Merry Christmas, U.S.A." by Austin Rudy

Celtic Folksongs A-Z

There are some great treasures in the realm of Celtic folk songs.  Well, most of them are about drinking, oppression, and murder, but they're still pretty great songs all the same.  Here is an A-Z list of some of the best traditional Celtic songs by 26 great folk groups out there.

The Napster playlist is here.
The Spotify playlist is here.
The Youtube playlist is here.

1. "As I Roved Out" by Celticana
2. "Back Home in Derry" by Blackthorn
3. "Caledonia" by No Frontiers
4. "Dirty Old Town" by Sligo Rags
5. "Early in the Morning" by The Henry Girls (Not on Spotify or Youtube playlists)
6. "Finnegan's Wake" by The Malarkey Brothers
7. "Galway Bay" by Noel McLoughlin
8. "The Hills of Connemara" by Cu Chulainn
9. "Irish Rover" by T. Duggins
10. "Johnny Jump Up" by The Stone Soup Band
11. "Keg of Brandy" by Christa Burch
12. "Lannigan's Ball" by Waxies Dargle
13. "Marie's Wedding" by The High Kings
14. "Nancy Whiskey" by Gaelic Storm (The Spotify song is by Shane McGowan)
15. "Only Our Rivers Run Free" by Patsy Watchorn
16. "Poor Paddy Works on the Railways" by The Blarney Lads
17. "The Queen of Connemara" by Sonas
18. "Raggle Taggle Gypsy" by The Chieftains
19. "Star of the County Down" by Nantathren
20. "The Town I Loved So Well" by The Dubliners
21. "Unquiet Grave" by Karen Mal
22. "The Verdant Braes of Skreen" by Briege Murphy(Spotify and Youtube song is by Wild Geese)
23. "The Water is Wide" by Niamh Parsons
24. "X-Prep Set" by Smoky Finish
25. "Ye Jacobites By Name" by Beth Patterson
26. "Zeto" by Wolfstone (Not on Spotify Playlist)


If you are looking for more great Celtic music, you can't go wrong with the High Kings.  Anything they do is excellent.

Forever Country

"Forever Country" is song that came out in September, 2016.  It is a combination of "Take Me Home, Country Roads," "On the Road Again," and "I Will Always Love You" performed by a collection of 30 country artists from classic Willie Nelson to modern Luke Bryan.   This song shot right to #1 of the Billboard Hot Country charts in it's first week, which is only the third song in history to accomplish this behind "More Than a Memory" by Garth Brooks (2007), and "My Baby's Got a Smile on Her Face" by Craig Wayne Boyd (2015).

The following playlist kicks off with "Forever Country," but continues on with one of the biggest hits from each of the 30 performers, in order of appearance in the music video.

For this list, I highly recommend the Youtube version since most of the songs have official music videos (or at least a live performance).

The Youtube version is here.
The Spotify version is here.
The Napster version is here.


1. "Forever Country" by Artists of Then, Now, and Forever
2. "He Didn't Have to Be" by Brad Paisley
3. "Days Go By" by Keith Urban
4. "Shotgun Rider" by Tim McGraw
5. "Breathe" by Faith Hill
6. "Pontoon" by Little Big Town
7. "I Don't Want This Night to End" by Luke Bryan
8. "Over You" by Miranda Lambert
9. "Forever and Ever, Amen" by Randy Travis
10. "Austin" by Blake Shelton
11. "The Chair" by George Strait
12. "Follow Your Arrow" by Kacey Musgraves
13. "Drink in My Hand" by Eric Church
14. "Smoky Mountain Rain" By Ronnie Milsap
15. "Kiss and Angel Good Morning" by Charley Pride
16. "Every Mile a Memory" by Dierks Bentley
17. "XXX's and OOO's (An American Girl)" by Trisha Yearwood
18. "American Honey" by Lady Antebellum
19. "It Won't Be Like This For Long" by Darius Rucker
20. "Independence Day" by Martina McBride
21. "Amarillo Sky" by Jason Aldean
22. "Bless the Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts
23. "Always on My Mind" by Willie Nelson
24. "Boot Scootin' Boogie" by Brooks & Dunn
25. "Song of the South" by Alabama
26. "Lose My Mind" by Brett Eldredge
27. "Fancy" by Reba McEntire
28. "Remember When" by Alan Jackson
29. "One More Last Chance" by Vince Gill
30. "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood
31. "Coat of Many Colors" by Dolly Parton

Composers A-Z 2

With this list we return to the roots of Western music with another A-Z list of classical composers similar to the list in my first entry (Composers A-Z).  Feel free to list to the lists back to back if you have time--there are no repeated composers between the two.

The Napster playlist is here.
The Spotify playlist is here.
The Youtube playlist is here.



1. Antheil, George "Allegro"
2. Beethoven, Ludwig van "Moonlight Sonata"
3. Copland, Aaron, "Hoe-Down"
4. Dvorak, Antonin "New World Symhony--Largo"
5. Enesco, Georges "Legend"
6. Faure, Gabriel "Sicilienne"
7. Gershwin, George "Rhapsody in Blue"
8. Handel, George Frideric Handel, "Water Music--Air"
9. Ives, Charles "Symphony No. 2--Andante Moderato"
10. Jarnefelt, Armas "Berceuse"
11. Kabalevsky, Dmitry Borisovich "Comedian's Galop"
12. Lully, Jean-Baptiste "Symphonie"
13. Mussorgsky, Modest "Pictures at and Exhibition--Great Gate of Kiev"
14. Nazareth, Ernesto "Brejeiro"
15. Obrecht, Jacob "Stat in Meskin"
16. Paganini, Nicolo "Caprice No. 9"
17. Quiroga, Manuel "Larghetto" (not on Spotify playlist)
18. Rodrigo, Joaquin "Allegro Gentile"
19. Schumann, Robert "Adagio and Allegro, Op. 70: II. Allegro" (The Youtube and Spotify versions has the full song instead of just the 2nd movement)
20. Telemann, Georg Philipp "Concerto for Viola: Andante"
21. Uematsu, Nobuo "Aerith's Theme (Final Fantasy VII)
22. Verdi, Giuseppe "Triumphal March"
23. Weber, Carl Maria von "La Tarantella-Prestissimo: Finale"
24. Xueyan, Liu "Flowing Waters of a Little River" (Not on Youtube playlist)
25. Young, Victor "Black"
26. Zamboni, Giovanni "Sonata in C minor: III. Giga"

Colors of Country

As autumn marches forward and the leaves begin to change colors, I began to think about the color songs of country music.  Most colors are pretty common in song titles, but for some reason country singers just don't like to sing about purple or violet; those songs are nearly impossible to find.

In the list below, there are 3 songs for each color coming from different eras of country.  The songs in green are for any songs performed before 1979. The songs in blue are from 1980-1999.  The songs in yellow are for songs from 2000-present.  Additionally, no artist has more than one song on this list (which is why there so many songs, like "Orange Blossom Special" or "Brown Eyed Handsome Man," being performed by artists other than the ones who made them famous).

The Napster playlist is here.
The Spotify playlist is here.
The Youtube playlist is here.


1. "Red Headed Stranger" by Willie Nelson
2. "Red River" by Alabama
3. "Red" by Taylor Swift (Not on Spotify Playlist)
4. "Orange Blossom Special" by Bill Monroe
5. "Down in the Orange Grove" by John Anderson (Not on Spotify Playlist)
6. "Orange Moon" by Keith Harkin
7. "Yellow Roses" by Hank Snow
8. "Yellow River Road" by Suzy Bogguss
9. "Yellow Brick Road" by Morgan Frazier
10. "The New Green Light" by Hank Thompson
11. "John Deere Green" by Joe Diffie
12. "Big Green Tractor" by Jason Aldean
13. "Blue, Blue Day" by Don Gibson
14. "Baby Blue" by George Strait
15. "Barefoot Blue Jean Night" by Jake Owen
16. "The Violet and the Rose" by Wanda Jackson
17. "She Picks the Violets" by The Jayhawks
18. "Violet Eyes" by Sandra McCracken
19. "The Long Black Veil" by Lefty Frizzell
20. "Black Water Bayou" by Tanya Tucker
21. "Long Black Train" by Josh Turner
22. "White Lightnin'" by George Jones
23. "Long White Cadillac" by Dwight Yoakam
24. "White Liar" by Miranda Lambert
25. "Silver Wings" by Merle Haggard
26. "Silver Thunderbird" by Jo Dee Messina (Not on Spotify Playlist)
27. "Silver Lining" by Kacey Musgraves
28. "All the Gold in California" by Larry Gatlin
29. "Gibbonsville Gold" by Hank Williams Jr. 
30. "Golden" by Lady Antebellum
31. "Pretty Little Pink" by Doc Watson
32. "Pink Flamingos" by Tracy Byrd
33. "Two Pink Lines" by Eric Church
34. "When I'm Gray" by Johnny Cash
35. "Cold Gray Kentucky Morning" by Aaron Tippin
36. "Shades of Gray" by Robert Earl Keen
37. "Brown Eyes Handsome Man" by Waylon Jennings
38. "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" by Crystal Gayle
39. "Cecil Brown" by Hank Williams III

Step It Out, Mary vs. Step It Out, Nancy

"Step It Out, Mary" is a song that has popped up many times during the years I spent digging through Celtic folk songs.  I first heard it in high school when a family friend gave my mother a CD which had the version by Hair of the Dog (a CD I quickly tried to claim for my own--keyword is "tried").  So given how familiar I was with the song, imagine how surprised I was to discover that Mary changed her name to Nancy, moved to America, and grew a backbone.  I had no idea that "Step it Out, Nancy" even existed until earlier this month when I found the song while searching for murder ballads.  How did I miss this until now?

The two songs are practically the same, having the same melody, tempo, and most of the same lyrics. However there are some key differences between the two songs.  Most of them are flavor; the Nancy versions have more a country sound and instrumentation to them, which the Mary version are definitely more Celtic.  They lyrical differences follow the same themes as well with Nancy's American Western setting and the imagery of the cattleman (as opposed to Mary's countryman) and the cowboy lover (instead of Mary's soldier).  The biggest difference between the two songs, however, is the ending.  Mild-Mannered-Mary and her soldier boy decide to recreate Romeo and Juliet, but Tough-As-Nails-Nancy would never take the easy way out.  Oh no, Nancy takes an extra two verses and gets her revenge. Take a look at the two songs below:

"Step It Out, Mary" by Hair of the Dog  (Youtube video is here)
"Step It Out, Nancy" by Holly Near (Youtube video is here)

In the village of Kilgory, there’s a maiden young and fair
Near Cheyenne in Wyoming there's a maiden fine and fair,

Her eyes they shone like diamonds, she had long and golden hair
Oh, her eyes they shone like diamonds, she had long and golden hair

Then a countryman came riding, he came to her daddy's gate
When the cattleman came riding he came to her father's door,

Mounted on a milk-white stallion, he came at the stroke of eight 
Mounted on a milk white pony, he came at the stroke of four

Chorus:
Chorus:

Step it out, Mary, my fine daughter
Step it out Nancy, pretty darlin'

Step it out, Mary, if you can
Step it out Nancy, if you can

Step it out, Mary, my fine daughter
Step it out Nancy, pretty darlin',

Show your legs to the country man (x2)
Show your legs to the wealthy man.

"I have come to court your daughter, Mary of the golden hair"
" I have come to court your daughter, Nancy of the golden hair,"

"I have gold and I have silver, I have lands beyond compare"
"I have wealth and I have money, I have goods beyond compare."

"I will buy her silks and satin and a gold ring for her hand"
"And I will buy her silks and satins, and a gold ring for her hand."

"I will build for her a mansion, she'll have servants to command"
"I will build for her a mansion, she'll have servants to command."

Chorus

"Kind sir I love a soldier, I have pledged to him my hands"
"Can't you see I love a cowboy and I've promised him my hand,

"I don't want your house or money, I don't want your gold nor land"
"I don't want your house and money, I don't want your goods and land."

Mary’s father spoke up sharply, "You will do as you are told"
Nancy's father spoke up sharply, said, "You'll do as you are told."

"You will marry him on Sunday and you will wear the ring of gold"
"You'll be married on a Sunday, you will wear that ring of gold."

Chorus 
Chorus

Near the village of Kilgory there's a deep stream running by
It was there that they found Mary, she had drowned with her soldier boy
In the cottage there is music, you can hear her daddy say
Step it out Mary, my fine daughter, Sunday is your wedding day.

Well, the cattleman spoke with fury, said, "You will not have that man,"
And he rode from town in anger with his rifle in his hand.
He came back from Colorado; on his pony was a sack,
Deep red with the blood of the cowboy slung across his back.

Pretty Nancy cried in anguish, she wept and tore her hair,
She slipped into her father's room and found a pistol lying there.
On the Sunday came the wedding, the town folks gathered at noon,
They saw Nancy pull the pistol and shoot down that wealthy groom.

Chorus

Nancy said, "I am not sorry," when the jury heard the tale,
Though he rots beneath the filthy ground and I shall rot in jail."
There in the crowded courtroom twelve good folks took their stand,
Said, "We will not hold you, Nancy, for killing that wealthy man."

Chorus

(Note: this next verse is not typically included in "Step it Out, Nancy," but I am including it here because Holly Near includes it in her version, which is the one I chose to use for comparison").

Well I hope you get my meaning, It's not that murder pays
But that women must not be bought or sold, either then or now-a-days
We will choose our lovers, we will live out our own lives
We'll love who we please with a passion and a sparkle in our eyes

Chorus

Country Murder Ballads

I am continuing with the murder ballad theme this week, and bringing you a set of country murder ballads, along with a few shoot-the-outlaw songs, and one interesting song that ponders whether or not a hangman is a murderer.


The Napster playlist is here.
The Youtube playlist is here.
The Spotify playlist is here.


1. "Amos Moses" by Jerry Reed
2. "Arkansas Murder Ballad No. 1" by Angela Easterling
3. "The Ballad of Charles Whitman" by Kinky Friedman
4. "The Ballad of Louise" by Jeannie C Riley
5. "The Banks of the Ohio" by Olivia Newton-John (Not on Spotify playlist)
6. "Big Iron" by Marty Robbins
7. "Billy the Kid" by Marty Robbins
8. "The Box it Came In" by Wanda Jackson
9. "The Bramble Briar" by Martin Simpson
10. "Cedartown Georgia" by Waylon Jennings
11. "Charles Guiteau" by Loman Cansler (Not on Youtube playlist)
12. "Child Owlet" by Steeleye Span
13. "Cocaine Blues" by Johnny Cash
14. "The Cold Hard Facts of Life" by Porter Wagoner
15. "Delia's Gone" by Johnny Cash
16. "Don't Take Your Guns to Town" by Johnny Cash
17. "Dragging the River" by Idgy Vaughn
18. "El Paso" by Marty Robbins
19. "Far From Any Road" by The Handsome Family
20. "Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash
21. "Frankie and Johnnie" by Jimmie Rodgers
22. "Goodbye Earl" by Dixie Chicks
23. "Gunpowder and Lead" by Miranda Lambert
24. "Hangman" by Marty Stuart
25. "Highwayman" by The Highwaymen
26. "House Carpenter" by The Handsome Family
27. "I Hung My Head" by Johnny Cash
28. "I Just Can't Let you Say Goodbye" by Willie Nelson
29. "I'm Gonna Kill You" by Casey James Prestwood
30. "Independence Day" Martina McBride
31. "Jesse With the Long Hair" by Robert Earl Keen
32. "John Hardy" by Bobby Bare
33. "The Killing of Billy Lee" by Mike Whitley
34. "The Killing of Me" by Jemma Nicole
35. "L.A. County" by Lyle Lovett
36. "The Legend of Wooley Swamp" by Charlie Daniels
37. "The Lighthouse's Tale" by Nickel Creek
38. "Lilli Schull" by Uncle Tupelo
39. "Little Delia" by Blind Willie McTell
40. "Little Omie Wise" by Doc Watson
41. "Looking Back Now" by Maggie Rose
42. "The Long Black Veil" by Lefty Frizzell
43. "Louis Collins" by Larry Perkins
44. "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" by Gene Pitney
45. "Marie Laveau" by Bobby Bare
46. "Mary Danced with Soldiers" by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Emmylou Harris
47. "Matamoros" by Billy Walker
48. "Me and Billy the Kid" by Joe Ely
49. "Miller's Cave" by Bobby Bare
50. "Murder of Crows" by Lindi Ortega
51. "The Murder of the Blue Eyed Man from Galveston Bay" by Blue Diamond Shine
52. "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" by Reba McEntire
53. "Ol' Red" by Blake Shelton
54. "Open Pit Mine" by George Jones
55. "Papa Loved Mama" by Garth Brooks (The Napster and Spotify Playlists have cover bands)
56. "Pardon Me (I've Got Someone to Kill)" by Johnny Paycheck
57. "Philadelphia Lawyer" by Willie Nelson
58. "Pretty Boy Floyd" by Rosanne Cash (Not on Spotify Playlist)
59. "Red Georgia Clay" by John Anderson
60. "Red Headed Stranger" by Willie Nelson
61. "Roving Gambler" by Jerry Reed
62. "Sam Hall" by Johnny Cash
63. "Seven Spanish Angels" by Ray Charles and Willie Nelson
64. "Silver Dagger" by Dolly Parton
65. "Sonora's Death Row" by Robert Earl Keen
66. "The Story Behind the Story" by Big Al Downing
67. "They're Hanging Me Tonight" by Marty Robbins
68. "Two Black Cadillacs" by Carrie Underwood
69. "Veil of White Lace" by Vernon Oxford
70. "When It's Springtime in Alaska (It's forty Below)" by Johnny Horton
71. "When You Leave That Way You Can Never Go Back" by Confederate Railroad
72. "Where the Wild Roses Grow" by Thomas Cory Myers
73. "Whiskey in my Whiskey" by The Felice Brothers
74. "Williamson County" by Gary Stewart
75. "Yvette" by Jason Isbell

I will continue to add songs to this list as I find them, but the songs beyond this point will not be in alphabetical order.

76. "Kevin Barry" by Stompin' Tom Conors
77. "The Everglades" by Waylon Jennings
78. "Westfall" by Okkervil River
79. "Buenas Noches From a Lonely Room (She Wore Red Dresses)" by Dwight Yoakam
80. "Louisiana Stripes" by Hank Williams III
81. "Down the River" by Chris Knight
82. "Living on the Run" by David Allan Coe
83. "Hardin Wouldn't Run" by Johnny Cash
84. "Country Death Song" by Violent Femmes
85. "Della and the Dealer" by Hoyt Axton (not on Spotify playlist)
86. "Room 205" by Chase Rice
87. "Mr. Wolf and Mamabear" by Robert Earl Keen
88. "Mr. Shorty" by Marty Robbins
89. "Church Bells" by Carrie Underwood
90. "The Bones of Benny Gray" by Dave Stamey
91. "25 to Life" by Mountain Deer Revival
92. "50 Acres" by Big Range
93. "Where'd You Hide the Body" by James McMurtry
94. "Geraldine" by Daniel Dye
95. "Julie" by Porter Wagoner
96. "Verlaine Shot Rimbaud" by Lydia Loveless
97. "Arkansas Dave" by George Strait
98. "The Ballad of William Kellor" by Tin and the Toad

Celtic Murder Ballads

Since it is still October, I am continuing with even more creepy murder ballads.  The tradition of the murder ballad originated with traditional Celtic folk music, so with this playlist we are going back to the roots of the murder ballad.  As a side note, you may notice that a lot of these songs are not on the Youtube or Spotify playlists, however many other version by other artists are available on both locations.

The Napster playlist is here.
The Spotify playlist is here.
The Youtube playlist is here.

1. "Banks of the Ohio" by Zoe Conway (the same recording is also attributed to Noriana Kennedy)
2. "The Banks of Red Roses" by Hanz Araki
3. "Bedlam Boys" by The Glengarry Bhoys
4. "Binnorie" by Christina Stewart
5. "Bold Poachers" by Martin Carthy
6. "The Bonny Earl O' Moray" by Jim Malcolm
7. "Bonnie Susie Cleland" by Sheena Wellington (Not on Youtube playlist)
8. "The Bonnie Banks O' Airdrie" by Adam McCulloch
9. "Border Widow's Lament" by Isla St. Clair
10. "The Bramble Briar" by Ewan MacColl
11. "Caleb Meyer" by Jessica Haines (Not on Spotify playlist)
12. "Child Owlet- Erskine's Folly" by John Falkner
13. "Clerk Saunders" by Christine Kydd (Not on Youtube playlist)
14. "The Cobbler's Daughter" by Craic in the Stone
15. "Crazy Man Michael" by Firkin
16. "The Cruel Brother" by Dick Gaughan (Not on Youtube playlist)
17. "The Cruel Mother" by Lothlorien (Not on Youtube playlist)
18. "The Dowie Dens of Yarrow" by LabGraal (Not on Youtube playlist)
19. "Down in the Willow Garden" by The Chieftains (Not on Youtube playlist)
20. "Edward" by Old Blind Dogs (Not on Spotify playlist)
21. "Eggs and Marrowbones" by Kick Up The Dust
22. "Famous Flower of Serving Men" by Morag (Not on Youtube playlist)
23. "Fair Margaret & Sweet William" by Craic in the Stone
24. "The Farmer Michael Hayes" by Seamus Stout
25. "Fine Flowers in the Valley" by Christina Stewart
26. "The Fowler" by Martin Carthy
27. "Harris and the Mare" by Stan Rogers
28. "Helen of Kirkconnell" by Hanz Araki
29. "The House Carpenter" by Cara
30. "The Irish Ballad (Rickety Tin Tin)" by Tom Lehrer
31. "Jack Orion/Rusty Jack" by Nancy Kerr
32. "Lady Isobel" by Lauren mcCormick
33. "Lady Margaret" by Pamela Morgan
34. "Lily of the West" by Matt and Shannon Heaton
35. "Little Musgrave" by Christy Moore
36. "Little Sir William" by John Kirkpatrick
37. "The Long Black Veil" by Siobhan O'Brien
38. "Long Lankin" by Long Lankin (Not on Youtube playlist)
39. "Lord Randall" by Rud Eile
40. "Lord Thomas and Fair Ellender" by Pamela Hunt
41. "Love Henry" by Martin Simpson
42. "Lovely Willie" by Cathie Ryan
43. "Lucy Wan" by Margaret Nelson and Phil Cooper
44. "The Maid of Cabra West" by Frank Harte (Not on Youtube playlist)
45. "Mary Hamilton" by Finn MacCuill (Not on Youtube playlist)
46. "Matty Groves" by Morag (Not on Youtube playlist)
47. "Mill O' Tifty" by Old Blind Dogs (Not on Spotify playlist)
48. "Molly Ban" by The Selkie Girls
49. "Omie Wise" by Poitin
50. "Outlandish Knight" by Danu
51. "Poor Murdered Woman" by Martin Carthy
52. "Pretty Polly" by Darol Anger
53. "Prince Heathen"  by Martin Carthy
54. "Sam Hall" by Dubliners
55. "Seven Yellow Gypsies" by Nancy Kerr
56. "Sheath & Knife" by Christine Kydd
57. "The Silver Dagger" by Solas
58. "Step it Out Nancy" by Holly Near
59. "Streets of Forbes" by June Tabor
60. "Sweet William's Ghost" by Cara
61. "Twa Sisters" by Emily Smith
62. "Two Butchers" by Martin Carthy
63. "The Well Below the Valley" by Pol Mac Adaim
64. "William Bloat" by Bootless and Unhorsed (Not on Youtube  or Spotify playlists)
65. "William Taylor" by The House Band
66. "The Wind the Shakes the Corn" by Irish Rovers
67. "Young Emily/Sophie's Jig" by Mike Vass
68. "Young Hunting" by Phil Cooper

I will continue to add songs to this playlist as I find them, but songs beyond this point will not be in alphabetical order

69. "Kevin Barry" by Declan Hunt
70. "Willie's Lady" by Ray Fisher (also attributed to Johnny Cunningham)
71. "The Murder of Maria Marten" by Ela Stiles
72. "Lucy Wan" by Martin Carthy
73. "Will the Weaver" by Atwater-Donnelly Trio

Bluegrass Murder Ballads

With October here and Halloween quickly approaching, I began wondering what playlists might be appropriate to post this month. Then it hit me, what could be more chilling than a collection of murder ballads?  Some of these songs are seriously disturbing (I'm looking at you, "The Barnyard"), and some of them just sound so dang cheerful it's hard to imagine the dastardly deeds happening in the lyrics.  Here are 70 Bluegrass Murder ballads (with a few kill-the-outlaw songs thrown in for good measure).  Enjoy!  Or, you know, cringe when appropriate.

The Napster playlist is here.
The Spotify playlist is here.
The Youtube playslist is here.


1. "Banks of the Ohio" by Bill Monroe
2. "The Barnyard" by Rachel Brooke
3. "The Beautiful Hills" by Cody Shuler
4. "Bible By the Bed" by Cadillac Sky
5. "Blackadders Cove" by Newfound Road
6. "Blackbirds and Crows" by Nashville Bluegrass Band
7. "The Bluefield Murders" by The New North Carolina Ramblers
8. "Bounty Hunter" by Mike Cross
9. "Carrie Brown" by Steve Earle
10. "Clinch Mountain Mystery" by Larry Stephenson
11. "Cruel Willie" by James Reams
12. "Darling Cory" by Jubilee Mule
13. "Down In the Willow Garden" by Dave Evans
14. "Dreadful Wind and Rain" by Jerry Garcia
15. "Duncan & Brady (He's Been On the Job Too Long)" by The Johnson Mountain Boys
16. "Fate of Rhoda Sweeten" by Wilmer Watts (Not on Spotify Playlist)
17. "Flowers in the Dell" by James King
18. "Frankie Silvers" by Clarence "Tom" Ashley
19. "The Ghost of Eli Renfro" by Nashville Bluegrass Band
20. "Ghost of the Molly Maguires" by Hair of the Dog
21. "The Ghost of Norma Jean" by Steep Canyon Rangers (The Spotify playlist has this song by the Canucky Bluegrass Boys)
22. "He Cut Her Throat" by Churchfitters (Not on Spotify Playlist)
23. "Hear the Willow Cry" by The SteelDrivers
24. "Henry Walker" by Del McCoury
25. "Hey Joe" by Jerry Douglas
26. "Hills of Roane County" by Tony Rice
27. "Hollis Brown" by Dudley Connell
28. "I Hung My Head" by Blue HIghway
29. "I Killed Sally's Lover" by The Avett Brothers
30. "If It Hadn't Been for Love" by The SteelDrivers
31. "In the Gravel Yard" by Blue Highway
32. "In the Pines" by Bill Monroe
33. "Isabell" by Undertakin' Daddies (Not on Spotify or Youtube Playlists)
34. "It Rained a Mist" by Jeremy Stephens
35. "Jailhouse Blues" by Ronnie Bowman
36. "Kenney Wagner's Surrender" by Ernest Stoneman
37. "Knoxville Girl" by The Louvin Brothers
38. "The Lawson Family Murder" by Doc Watson
39. "The Legend of Jennie Wade" by Lonesome River Band
40. "Lily of the West" by The Company Store
41. "Little Glass of Wine" by Ralph Stanley
42. "The Little Grave in Georgia" by Earl Johnson
43. "Little Henry Lee" by The Virginia Cutups
44. "Little Matty Groves" by Norman Blake
45. "Little Sadie" by Tony Rice
46. "Lester Moore" by Ronnie Bowman
47. "Long Black Veil" by The Seldom Scene
48. "Love for an Angel" by Ronnie Bowman
49. "Ludlow Massacre" by The Dillards (Not on Spotify)
50. "Miller's Cave" by Scot Tackett
51. "My Love Lies In the Ground" by Dirk Powell
52. "Norma Jean" by Steep Canyon Rangers
53. "Nothing But a Whippoorwill" by Blue Highway
54. "Old Time Angels" by Jim Lauderdale
55. "Otto Wood, the Bandit" by Loafer's Glory
56. "The Peddler and His Wife" by Kenny Jackson
57. "Poor Ellen Smith" by Laura Cantrell
58. "Pretty Polly" by Ralph Stanley
59. "Railroad Bill" by Crooked Still (Not on Youtube playlist)
60. "River Bottom" by The Country Gentlemen
61. "Secret of the Waterfall" by The Country Gentlemen
62. "Simon Crutchfield's Grave" by The Rarely Herd
63. "Stack O Lee" by Hylo Brown
64. "Take Me in Chains" by Del McCoury
65. "Tom Dooley" by Doc Watson
66. "Up Falling Rock Hill" by The Handsome Family
67. "Wexford Girl" by Great American String Band
68. "Wild Bill Jones" by Alison Krauss
69. "Who Showed Who" by Del McCoury
70. "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" by Del McCoury

This list will continue to grow from time to time as I find more bluegrass murder ballads.  The following songs are new additions, but are not in any particular order

71. "Silver Dagger" by Talon
72. "Veil of White Lace" by Cliff Waldron
73. "The Jealous Lover" by The Stanley Brothers
74. "Open Pit Mine" by Nashville Bluegrass Band
75. "Roving Gambler" by Larry Sparks
76. "Shotgun Slade" by Ralph Stanley
77. "Philadelphia Lawyer" by Rose Maddox
78. "Old Richmond Prison" by Ralph Stanley
79. "John Hardy" by Jerry Reed
80. "Footsteps So Near" by Ralph Stanley (Not on Spotify playlist)
81. "Butcher Boy" by Aubrey Haynie
82. "The House Carpenter" by John Reischman
83. "Perfume, Powder, and Lead" by Lonesome River Band
84. "38 Special" by Wayne Taylor
85. "Will the Weaver" by Mike Seeger
86. "Cold Carolina Snow" by Carolina Road
87. "25 Years" by Yarn

Four Weeks of Country

Everyone loves to sing about Friday and Saturday--they're the best days of the week.  But, how often do you ever hear somebody singing the merits of Tuesday or praising Thursday?  If you do some digging, those songs are out there.  Here are four weeks of country songs about days.

The Napster playlist can be found here.
The Spotify playlist can be found here.
The Youtube playlist can be found here.

1. "Raining on Sunday" by Keith Urban
2. "Except for Monday" by Lorrie Morgan
3. "Just Another Tuesday" by Ronnie Fauss
4. "Wednesday's Child" by Claire Lynch
5. "Thursday Night" by Zach DuBois
6. "Friday Night Feelin'" by Vern Gosdin
7. "Louisiana Saturday Night" by Mel McDaniel
8. "Sunday in the South" by Shenandoah
9. "I Don't Have to Be Me (Til Monday)" by Steve Azar
10. "Every Tuesday Night" by Miss Leslie
11. "Ash Wednesday" by The Point Blank Band
12. "Thursday Jayne" by Terry Holder
13. "Friday Night Blues" by John Conlee
14. "Saturday Night" by Jo Dee Messina
15. "That's What I Love About Sunday" by Craig Morgan
16. "If We're Not Back In Love By Monday" by Merle Haggard
17. "Tuesday Night" by Sweet Root
18. "A Wednesday Car" By Johnny Cash
19. "Like a Summer Thursday" by Townes Van Zandt
20. "It's Friday" by Dean Brody
21. "Small Town Saturday Night" by Hal Ketchum
22. "Seven Sundays in a Row" by Blue Highway
23. "Monday Morning Church" by Alan Jackson
24. "On An Ordinary Tuesday" by Buddy Jewell (Not on the Youtube playlist)
25. "Born on a Wednesday" by Billy Goerdt
26. "Thursday" by Blind Corn Liquor Pickers
27. "Another Friday Night" by Kenny Chesney
28. "American Saturday Night" by Brad Paisley

If nothing else, go check out It's Friday by Dean Brody.  He performs it with Great Big Sea!

Hipster Country A-Z

Are you tired of hearing the same top 40 country songs on the radio all day long? So many modern country stations seem to play last month's top 10 country songs on repeat and ignore everything else. If you are looking for some great new songs, you're in luck with this playlist!  Here is a collection of songs from country artists so obscure that as of 9/14/16 (the date I have published this blog post) they don't even have their own Wikipedia page. In addition, this is an A-Z playlist with first names then last names.

Enjoy!

The Napster playlist is here: Hipster Country on Napster
The Youtube playlist is here: Hipster Country on YouTube
The Spotify playlist is here: Hipster Country on Spotify

1. Adam Sanders "Thunder"
2. Blaire Hanks "She Picks Me Up"
3. Clayton Anderson "Shotgun Rider"
4. David Adam Byrnes "More Afraid of Livin'"
5. Earl Wear "Walking to Wyoming"
6. Fiona Culley "Anywhere With You"
7. George Molton "Bluegrass On My Mind"
8. Hank Barbee "These Were the Days"
9. Ira Wolf "Can't Say"
10. Jeremiah Wheeler "I Call Home"
11. Keith Sewell "Sawdust Hill"
12. Lisa Dames "Just Another Day"
13. Michelle Poe "Just One of the Boys
14. Natalie Metcalf "Detour"
15. Olivia Rose "Cowboy Song"
16. Phillip Clarkson "Silvery Gray Barn"
17. Rainey Qualley "Me and Johnny Cash"
18. Ralph Stanley II "Georgia"
19. Steve Spurgin "Fire on the Kettle"
20. Travis Marvin "That's the Way We Roll" (The Youtube playlist has "Typically Taken")
21. Clay Underwood "We Got It All in the Country"
22. Vanessa Branson "Moon Shine"
23. Wyatt Turner "John Wayne"
24. Alex Runions "Little Bit of Sunshine"
25. Yvette Landry "Where Memories Are Gold"
26. Zach Dubois "Work Harder"

27. Allen, Jason "He's Still Dancin' With Her"
28. Burton, Julie "Never Got to Say"
29. Collins, Travis "Don't Win Enough"
30. Doell, Jordan "Scars"
31. Edwards, Keri "Trouble Waters"
32. Foster, Jordan "Running on Empty"
33. Golden, Cari "Hearts on Fire"
34. Hand, Craig "Dancin' With the Devil"
35. Irving, Mark "Hold On"
36. Joyner, Bryan Adam "Could Not Stay"
37. Kinder, Ryan "Tonight"
38. Lane, Jaryd "Country Boy Blues"
39. Matthews, Jason "Life Happened"
40. Norman, Jennifer "Lover's Moon"
41. Owens, Natalie "Love Me Like Louisiana"
42. Pettersen, Jennifer "The Fool Who Rushed Away"
43. Quinn, Emory "Idabel"
44. Ryan, Mike "Dancing All Around It"
45. Stogner, Jason "Country In Me"
46. Turner, Rachael "Aftershock"
47. Upchurch, Ryan "Stuck on 17"
48. Van Rys, Chad "And They All Came Home But Me (Once a Marine)" (The Spotify Playlist has the song "Blue Collar Fighting Man")
49. Winter, Carter "Whiskey and Wine"
50. Fox, Bryan "Be That Kind of Man"
51. Yoder, Keith "Rise and Shine"
52. Ziegler, Eric "23rd Psalm"

"Country Again" Lyrics

"County Again" by Ronnie Milsap

Country Again on Napster
Country Again on Youtube
Country Again on Spotify


Tommy bought him a hot-rod pickup
I guess it was about 10 years ago,
And every night in his garage
He worked on that Dodge
And never told a soul.

One night he decided to unveil that thing
For the whole town to see.
I think we thought he was a little crazy
When he said it was some kind of time machine.
Then a voice from the crowd said "prove it"
And that's just what Tommy did.
He went and pulled the clutch on that old pickup
Which sounded something like this...

(Move out of the way)

Just before he disappeared into thin air,
He said I'm going to the future ya'll,
And just like that he was riding back,
And here is what he saw.

He said "There were cars that flew down 5th Avenue,
And where that co-op sits right now
There's a sky-scraper a mile high
That'd make you dizzy when you look down.

He went on and on about robots and what not,
And Lord knows the stories that he told,
But nothing amazed him quite as much
As what he heard on the radio.

It was country again, so the future looks bright.
Those folks of tomorrow play their music right.
They're still holding on
To that down-home tradition.
It just about went.
We thought we lost our old friend
It was country again.

Tommy reached into his shirt pocket
and pulled out a song he had smuggled back.
He popped it in, and when he did,
It sounded a whole lot like the past.
The boy sang just like he had lived
Every single word.
And you could feel the joy,
And you could feel the pain,
And we all knew that we'd heard...

Country again, so the future looks bright.
Those folks of tomorrow play their music right.
They're still holding on
To that down-home tradition.
It just about went.
We thought we lost our old friend
It was country again

Yeah,  it just about went.
We thought we lost our old friend,
It was country again.

A-Z Modern Country Artists

Here you will find some of the biggest names in modern country music, along with a few unknown artists as well, presented in A-Z format. The list goes through the alphabet twice, one with last names, one with first names, and never repeats a singer.  I did have to cheat for letters X (the names end with x instead of start with them) and Q (both lists have a person whose last name starts with Q).  If anybody knows of a country artist that has a first name starting with Q or either name starting with X, please let me know.  I would love to add them to my list.

For this list, I highly recommend the Youtube version if you have the time to watch.  Most of the songs are the official music videos.

The Napster playlist is here.
The Spotify playlist is here.
The Youtube playlist is here.

1. Aldean, Jason "Dirt Road Anthem"
2. Ballerini Kelsea "Love Me Like You Mean It"
3. Chesney, Kenny "The Good Stuff"
4. Darling, Sarah "Home to Me
5. Evans, Sarah "Suds in the Bucket"
6. Farr, Tyler "Whiskey in My Water"
7. Gilbert, Brantley "One Hell Of An Amen"
8. Hunt, Sam "Leave the Night On"
9. Isabella, Kira "Country's Written All Over Me"
10. Jackson, Alan "Drive (For Daddy Gene)"
11. Keith, Toby "American Ride
12. Lambert, Miranda "The House That Built Me"
13. McGraw, Tim "Humble and Kind"
14. Nettles, Jennifer "His Hands"
15. Olsen, Steven Lee "Make Hay While the Sun Shines"
16. Paisley, Brad "Mud on the Tires"
17. Qualley, Rainey "Never Mine"
18. Rucker, Darius "Wagon Wheel"
19. Swift, Taylor "White Horse" (The Spotify playlist uses "Should've Said No")
20. Turner, Josh "Long Black Train"
21. Underwood, Carrie "Something in the Water"
22. Vassar, Phil "Don't Miss Your Life"
23. Wilson, Gretchen "Redneck Woman"
24. Fox, Steve "The Road of Life"
25. Yearwood, Trisha "She's in Love With the Boy"
26. Zach, Tim "Like Him"

27. Alison Krauss "When You Say Nothing At All"
28. Brett Eldredge "Drunk On Your Love"
29. Cole Swindell "Middle of  Memory"
30. Dierks Bentley "Somewhere On A Beach"
31. Eric Church "Springsteen"
32. Faith Hill "Mississippi Girl"
33. Granger Smith "Miles and Mud Tires"
34. Hunter Hayes "I Want Crazy"
35. Ira Dean "Rollin' Thru the Moonshine
36. Jamey Johnson "In Color
37. Kacey Musgraves "Merry Go 'Round"
38. Luke Bryan "Drink a Beer"
39. Martina McBride "This One's For the Girls"
40. Nancy Apple "Cadillac Man"
41. Olivia Lane "Love Thing"
42. Paul Brandt "A Little in Love"
43. Emory Quinn "Highways of Gold"
44. Randy Houser "Like a Cowboy"
45. Scotty McCreery "See You Tonight"
46. Travis Tritt "It's a Great Day to Be Alive"
47. Uriah Shelton "Anything for You"
48. Vanessa Bransan "Who I Am"
49. William Michael Morgan "I Met a Girl"
50. Alex Runions "You're My Excuse"
51. Yvette Landry "120 Proof" (The Youtube playlist uses "Another Lesson Learned")
52. Zach Dylan "That's Just Me"

Year of Rain

Have you ever noticed just how many songs there are about rain? In fact there is even a song called "Songs about Rain" that lists the names of other songs about rain.

Now there's all kind of songs about babies and love that goes right,

But for some unknown reason nobody wants to play them tonight,

Hey I hope it's sunny wherever you are,

But that's sure not the picture tonight in my car, 

And it sure ain't easing my pain all these songs like,

Rainy Night In Georgia,

and Kentucky Rain,

Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again, 

Blue Eyes Crying In The early morning Rain,

They go on and on,

And there's no two the same.

I'm sure there are enough rainy day songs out there to play music for an entire year, but for brevity's sake my "Year of Rain" playlist limits the list to one song per month (a very specific song per month, as you will see), with the "Songs About Rain" introduction.

The Napster version can be found here.

The Spotify version can be found here.

The Youtube version can be found here.

1. "Songs About Rain" by Gary Allan

2. "January Rain" by Joelle Maddyson

3. "February Rain" by Peter Vuksich

4. "March Rain" by Bill Dean

5. "April Rain" by Delain

6. "May Rain" by Saving Dawn

7. "June Rain" by Sandra Mollman

8. "July Rain" by Steel Creek

9. "August Rain" by Hogg Maulies

10. "September Rain" by Erick Macek

11. "October Rain" by Roxie Randle

12. "November Rain" by Guns N' Roses

13. "December Rain" by The Lovemonkeys (not included on Youtube Playlist)

14. "Year of Rain" by SundogProject (not included on Spotify Playlist)

"It Only Takes One" Lyrics

"It Only Takes One" on Napster
"It Only Takes One" on Spotify
The song is not available on Youtube but Here is Travis Wayne's Youtube account

"It Only Takes One"
By Travis Wayne

They kicked John's best friend out of school
He can't even say his name
He's already been warned
The next time its 3 days
If it was selling drugs, fighting,
Or had a gun John could relate
But it was something stupid
Separation of church and state
John's never thrown a punch.
He keeps turning the other cheek
He swallows hard and bites his tongue
When they call him a Jesus Freak

It only takes one young rebel
One cause to cause trouble
One pebble in a pond can start a wave
You know how folks get carried away
One tree can grow a forest
One man came before us
He blazed a trail, took three nails,
And built a kingdom to come
Saving millions
It only takes one

Now John's got 3 or 4 buddies
Looks like he's gaining ground
They gather at the flag pole every morning
Eyes closed, and heads bowed
One kid's dad's in prison
Another's got a mama hooked on crack
John's doing what he's led to do
And you can't argue with that

Cause gangs are getting smaller
And dealers are getting caught
Thanks to kids just like John
And praise to God

It only takes one young rebel
One cause to cause trouble
One pebble in a pond can start a wave
You know how folks get carried away
One tree can grow a forest
One man came before us
He blazed a trail, took three nails,
And built a kingdom to come
Saving millions

It only takes one young rebel
One cause to cause trouble
One pebble in a pond can start a wave
You know how folks get carried away
One tree can grow a forest
One man came before us
He blazed a trail, took three nails,
And built a kingdom to come
Saving millions
It's only takes one


Travis Wayne is a country artist I discovered recently and liked immediately. However, it appears that he has retired from the country music scene as of 7-4-2016.  He made the following announcement on his facebook page:

"Ok so I've thought about it for a while and I wanted everyone to hear it from me first. I am officially going to retire from playing music. I've spent the last 7 years traveling, playing, and entertaining all of you and it's been a blessing. I've been able to do and see some amazing things. But there is another side of music that I don't much care for. The band part being one. Just tired of having to deal with other members who are usually unappreciative and deceitful. Those who know me know drugs and such has never been my thing. Unfortunately other band members do not see things the way I do. Nashville is a nasty, cut throat town and I'm not willing to change into someone I don't wanna be for them. Does this mean I'll never play again? Of course not. I'll always find a stage to sing and play on. I'm just done dealing with all the unnecessary drama that comes with everything. I love you all and want you all who have truly supported my music to know I love and appreciate each one of you. As I said earlier, I'll continue to play just not to the caliber I was! Thank you all again for an amazing experience!"

Frankly, I don't blame him.  It doesn't sound like an avenue I would want to travel either.  However, I'm sad that country music has lost an artist with such potential, and I'm especially sad that he retired so shortly after I learned about him.

Marching Bands in Country Songs

Have you ever wondered how often marching bands come up in country songs?  No?  Nobody else has ever wondered that?  Oh well, here's a fun playlist anyway. It includes as many country songs as I could find that mention marching band at least once, somewhere in their lyrics. The list starts with Brad Paisley's #1 hit "Online," and ends with another well-known song that is not typically considered country, but still feels right at home with the rest of the list.

The Napster version can be found here Marching Bands in Country Songs on Napster

The Spotify version can be found here Marching Bands in Country Music on Spotify

The Youtube version can be found here Marching Bands in Country Music on Youtube

1. "Online" by Brad Paisley

2. "A Really Long Year" by Rosie Thomas (Not included on the Spotify playlist)

3. "Senor (Tales of Yankee Power) by Dierks Bentley

4. "Girl Next Door" by Julie Roberts

5. "Be A Little Quieter" by Porter Wagoner

6. "Travelin' Soldier" by Dixie Chicks

7. "Hang On" by Country Joe & The Fish

8. "Quarterback" by Kira Isabella

9. "Must Be Love" by Lonestar

10. "Trouble No More" by Mindy Gledhill

11. "Country Man" by Jeff Bates

12. "A Little Left of Center" by Randy Travis

13. "American Pie" by Don McLean

Country Must Be Country Wide

"Country Must be Country Wide" is a country song by Brantley Gilbert that was released in 2011.  All through the process of creating this playlist, fragments of that song kept running through my head, and just seemed so fitting. Here are a few of the most appropriate lyrics:

Country must be country wide

In every state

There's a station

Playin' Cash, Hank, Willie, and Waylon

In foreign cars and four wheel drives

There's cowboys and hillbillies

From farm towns to big cities

There ain't no doubt in my mind

Country must be country wide

It ain't where

It's how you live

You can also find a similar theme in "Country Is," a song by Tom T. Hall released in 1974. 

Country is 

sittin' on the back porch 

listen to the whippoorwills 

late in the day

Country is

mindin' your business 

helpin' a stranger 

if he comes your way

Country is 

livin' in the city

knowin' your people 

knowin' your kind

Country is 

what you make it 

country is all in your mind

Without further delay, here is a playlist of fifty country songs about every state in the nation (by fifty different artists, no less), plus the two bonus songs I quoted above.

The Napster version can be found here: Napster Version of Country Must be Country Wide
The Spotify Version can be found here: Spotify Version of Country Must be Country Wide

The Youtube version is here Country must be Country Wide on Youtube  (As always, I select videos for the sound quality, not necessarily for video content).

(By the way, if you don't want to listen to the whole list, at least check out Iowa, Maryland, and South Dakota. They are some top-notch bluegrass songs by relatively unknown artists and are definitely worth your time).

"All in Alabama" by Hank Williams Jr.

"North to Alaska" by Johnny Horton

"Arizona Whiz" by Cal Smith

"Arkansas Dave" by George Strait

"All the Gold in California" by Gatlin Brothers

"I Guess He's Rather Be in Colorado" by John Denver

"Connecticut Redneck Song" by David Stephens

"Man from Delaware" by Jason Frye

"My Florida Sunshine" by Claire Lynch

"The Devil Went Down to Georgia" Charlie Daniels Band

"Blue for Old Hawaii" by Hank Snow (Not included in the Spotify playlist)

"Boise, Idaho" by Cimarron (Not included in the Youtube playlist)

"Illinois" by Brett Eldredge

"Indiana's Angel" by Brantley Gilbert (Not included in the Youtube playlist)

"Iowa Winter" by Finders and Youngberg

"You're Not in Kansas Anymore" by Jo Dee Messina

"Blue Moon of Kentucky" by Bill Monroe

"Louisiana Saturday Night" by Mel McDaniel

"Portland, Maine" by Tim McGraw

"Maryland County Road" by Erica Wheeler (Not included in the Spotify playlist)

"Massachusetts" by Aaron Lewis

"Saginaw, Michigan" by Lefty Frizzell

"Minnesota Flatwoods Farm Boy" by Jeff Young

"Mississippi Girl" by Faith Hill

"Missing Missouri" by Sara Evans

"Meet Me in Montana" by Marie Osmond

"Little Nebraska Town" by Rachel Price

"Sierra Nevada" by Sons of the Pioneers

"Waltz Across New Hampshire" by Bradley Winfield Parker

"I'm From New Jersey" by John Gorka

"New Mexico" by Johnny Cash

"In a New York Minute" by Ronnie McDowell

"North Carolina" by Divine Maggees

"North Dakota" by Tigirlily

"Look at Miss Ohio" by Miranda Lambert

"You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma" by David Frizzell

"Eugene, Oregon" by Dolly Parton

"Pennsylvania Avenue" by Reckless Kelly

"Rhode Island" by Kydells

"South Carolina Low Country" by Josh Turner

"On the South Dakota Wind" by Becky Buller

"Tennessee Whiskey" by Chris Stapleton

"If You're Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)" by Alabama

"Utah Carol" by Marty Robbins

"Moonlight in Vermont" by Willie Nelson

"Carry Me Back to Virginia" by Old Crow Medicine Show

"My Washington Woman" by Kenny Rogers

"West Virginia Coal Mine" by Jim Cook and the Taylormacs

"Wisconsin Water" by Horseshoes and Handgrenades

"Why Wyoming" by Kellie Coffey

"Country Must be Country Wide" by Brantley Gilbert

"Country Is" by Tom T. Hall

As a random side note, I was particularly impressed with the songs about North Dakota and had a very difficult time choosing a top song to put in this playlist.  Just in case you want to see them out, the runners up included "North Dakota Girl" by James Talley and "North Dakota Boy" by Doc Walker.

Composers A-Z

I've been building unusual music playlists for years, often using odd themes or strict rules that I assign myself.  I simply enjoy the challenge, but this has a secondary effect of allowing me to discover interesting and unusual music I would have never found otherwise. After years of this somewhat odd hobby, I decided it was time to share some of my playlists with the world.

The most appropriate way to start this blog seems like it should be with the very first playlist I ever built, way back during my college days as a music education major. As you might imagine, during this period of my life I was completely and totally immersed in classical music, which is how this list came about.

I build my playlists primarily with Napster (formerly Rhapsody), so if you have a Napster account, this will be the most complete, original list. You can find the playlist here: A-Z Composers on Napster
If you prefer Spotify, you can find the playlist here: A-Z Composers on Spotify
If you prefer to listen through Youtube, this playlist contains as much of the original list as I was able to find on youtube, but I did not spend any time critiquing the videos as this is primarily focused on sound.   The playlist can be found here:
A-Z Composers on Youtube

And if you just want to see the list without bothering to listen to it, here it is below:

Albinoni, Tomaso: Adagio in G Minor: Giazotto
Bach, Johann Sebastian: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor
Chopin, Frederic: Prelude, Op. 28 No. 13 in F sharp major, Lento
Debussy, Claude: Clair De Lune
Elgar, Edward: Salut d'amour
Franck, Cesar: Violin Sonata in A Major: III Recitativo
Grieg, Edvard: Peer Gynt Suite: In the Hall of the Mountain King
Haydn, Franz Joseph: Symphony No. 94, Surprise Minuet
Isaac, Heinrich: Carmen a 5
Janacek, Leos: Idyll for Strings, Adagio
Katchaturian, Aram: Sabre Dance
Liszt, Franz: Mephisto waltz No.1
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K 525 Allegro
Nielsen, Carl: Canto Serioso
Offenbach, Jacques: Barcarolle from "The Tales of Hoffman"
Prokofiev, Sergey: Romeo and Juliet: Dance of the Knights
Quantz, Johann Joachim: Concerto for Flute, Bassoon, Strings, and B.C. in G Major - III Allegretto (The Spotify playlist has a different song by Quantz: Flute Concerto in A Minor: Allegretto)
Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolai: Flight of the Bumble Bee
Schubert, Franz: Piano Sonata No. 6 in E minor - IV. Rondo Allegretto ( the Spotify and youtube video include the first movement - I. Moderato)
Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Illyich: Neapolitan Dance
Ullman, Viktor: Piano Sonata N. 5 Op. 45 - Andante
Vivaldi, Antonio: Four Seasons Violin Concert in E Major - "Spring"
Wagner, Richard: Ride of the Valkyries
Xenakis, Iannis: Six Chansons pour piano
Ysaye, Eugene: Sonata No, 1 in G minor - I. Grave (Lento assai)
Ziehrer, Carl Michael: Pfiffig op. 384 Polka Francaise pfiffig