If you’re getting bored with the tried (but true) tropes of love, loss, and drinkin’ beers in your truck that make up much of country music, you’re in luck. These five songs are some of the weirdest and most intriguing tracks that country music artists have ever cooked up.
1. “Pissin’ In The Wind” by Jerry Jeff Walker
Jerry Jeff Walker was an underrated figure in outlaw country, and his name is not quite as big as his outlaw contemporaries Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, among others. Known for the hit “Mr. Bojangles”, Walker also wrote one of the weirdest country songs of all time: “Pissin’ In The Wind”.
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The title is probably the weirdest thing about this track, other than the fact that it opens with a dedication to Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Billy Swan, and Donny Fritts. The song itself is about making the same mistakes over and over in life, so the title does make quite a bit of sense in this context.
2. “Why Don’t We Get Drunk” by Jimmy Buffett
This song was definitely intended to be weird. “Why Don’t We Get Drunk” by Jimmy Buffett is a novelty track from 1973. The most notably weird lyrics from this song would have to be “So, barmaid, bring a pitcher, another round of brew / Honey, why don’t we get drunk and screw / Why don’t we get drunk and screw / I just bought a water bed, it’s filled up for me and you”.
Buffett originally wrote the song under a pseudonym, but it’s quite obviously Jimmy Buffett poking fun at traditional country love tunes.
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3. “Dirty Old Egg-Suckin’ Dog” by Johnny Cash
The title of this 1966 by Johnny Cash is one of his weirdest, though Cash has never been a stranger to weird track titles. The lyrical content of this song is innocent enough. It follows the story of an old shaggy dog who keeps killing a man’s chickens and stealing their eggs. Not a lot of depth there, no secret meaning. It’s just a song about a dirty old egg-suckin’ dog.
4. “Dropkick Me Jesus (Through The Goalposts Of Life)” by Bobby Bare
In all honesty, this writer thought the title of this 1976 song by Bobby Bare was made up. But no, it’s definitely a real song. Bare simply wanted to compare his love of Christ to football, and in a way, the song is charming. Bare did have to defend it, though.
“She [Bare’s mother] just KNEW there was something wrong with a song that had ‘kick’ and ‘Jesus’ that close together in the title,” Bare once said. “And she wasn’t alone. But Elvis Costello and Bill Clinton understand it and like it.”
5. “You’re The Reason Our Kids Are Ugly” by Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty
This is definitely on the funnier side of weird country song titles. It’s also a pretty great tune, too. “You’re The Reason Our Kids Are Ugly” by Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty is a duet about a couple who are broke, homely, and a little bit trashy. But they love their family all the same.
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives
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