Nashville is home to many country stars. As such, countless artists have taken to singing about Music City over the genre’s storied history. Find three of the best songs about Nashville, below.
Videos by American Songwriter
3 of the Best Country Songs About Nashville
1. “This Town Gets Around” (Margo Price)
As with any aspect of the music industry, not everyone chalks Nashville up to a walk in the park. Some artists have not found Music City to be the mecca of their dreams, but instead a byproduct of a hard-to-manage industry. Margo Price falls into the latter category on “This Town Gets Around.”
In this town everybody’s trying to get a piece of everybody else
It gets hard to tell a real friend from a fake one
So many promises, favors, and lies
Most of the town wears a good disguise
And even I, too, have been known to wear one
I can’t count all the times I’ve been had
Now I know much better than to let that make me mad
I don’t let none of that get me down
From what I’ve found this town gets around
2. “Wrong Side of Memphis” (Trisha Yearwood)
Tennessee has several musical hubs. While some people prefer the Memphis blues, others prefer the glitz and glamour of Nashville. Trisha Yearwood makes the move from one to the other in “Wrong Side of Memphis.” Yearwood dreams of heading for the Nashville sign, ready to make her wildest dreams come true. It’s safe to say she accomplished that goal.
No turning back, I’ve come too far
Headed down 40 with my old guitar
This ain’t Graceland, well, that’s a fact
And I ain’t driving no pink Cadillac
I’ve been livin’ on the wrong side of Memphis
Gonna bronze these blue suede shoes
These cowboy boots are gettin’ kinda restless
They ain’t got a single thing to lose
3. “Nashville Without You” (Tim McGraw)
Though Music City is home to hundreds of thousands, Tim McGraw finds it empty without one special person. In “Nashville Without You,” McGraw feels that the city has lost its luster without her in his life.
No tourists takin’ in the sights
No stetsons under broadway lights
No pickers playin’ for pocket change
No rhinestone boots on an old church stage
Hey blue eyes, cryin’ in the rain
Hey fire, burnin’ round the ring
Hey crazy, you know it’s true
That nashville, wouldn’t be nashville, without you
(Photo by John Salangsang/Shutterstock)
More Features
-
British rock band, Badfinger, filming a performance of 'Day After Day' to be used as an insert for the 'Top Of The Pops', music show, BBC Television Centre, London, 26th January 1972. It is unclear whether the segment was ever broadcast. Left to right: Mike Gibbins (1949 – 2005), Pete Ham (1947 – 1975), Tom Evans (1947 – 1983) and Joey Molland. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) -
Kyu Sakamoto. (1941-1985) Japanese singer, best known outside Japan for his international hit song "Ue o Muite Aruko" (known as "Sukiyaki" in English-speaking markets), which was sung in Japanese and sold over 13 million copies. It reached number one in the United States Billboard Hot 100 in June 1963, making Sakamoto the first Asian recording artist to have a number one song on the chart. (Photo by Sjöberg Bildbyrå/ullstein bild via Getty Images) -
Singer-songwriter Paul McCartney of British rock group Wings, pictured wearing a neck scarf in an office in London circa 1975. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) -
Sammy Hagar and Eddie Van Halen at Farm Aid 1985 -
Photo by Jeffrey Mayer/WireImages -
CIRCA 1965: Country singer Eddy Arnold poses for a portrait sitting in a chair in circa 1965. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Don Felder performing with the Eagles -
British musician Christine McVie, of the group Fleetwood Mac, performs onstage at the Alpine Valley Music Theater, East Troy, Wisconsin, July 19, 1978. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)