These 4 Country Songs Will Get Your Summer Started Right

The calendar might say the first day of summer isn’t until later this month. However, most agree that Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial kickoff of the season. With the solemn holiday behind us, it’s time for cookouts, days on the water, and vacation. No matter what your summer plans look like, nothing will elevate the activities like some top-notch country songs.

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These songs from some of country music’s most lauded hitmakers capture the vibes of summer like grilling burgers and cold sweet tea. These are the tunes that were seemingly written to play on the lake or in the backyard.

[RELATED: 4 Hot Country Songs for Your Summer Playlist]

1. “The Seashores of Old Mexico” by Merle Haggard

Merle Haggard wrote “The Seashores of Old Mexico” and included it on his 1974 album Merle Haggard Presents His 30^th Album. While the admittedly dated country instrumentation doesn’t exactly scream “summer vibes,” the story in the song is perfect for those who seek adventure when the weather gets warmer.

The song’s protagonist is a wanted man who flees Arizona for Mexico. His first few days in the country see him losing all of his money and his truck. However, by the end of the song, he’s living his best life South of the Border.

2. “Chattahoochee” by Alan Jackson

There’s probably a law against assembling a list of country songs for the summer and leaving out this Alan Jackson classic. It has been a cornerstone of the season’s soundtrack for countless listeners since Jackson released it two weeks before Memorial Day in 1993. “Chattahoochee” and a few other songs from Jackson’s catalog will likely continue to be hot summer jams until the end of time.

3. “Fishin’ in the Dark” by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

This 1987 No. 1 hit country song by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is a celebration of summer nights. There’s nothing like waiting for the sun and the temperature to drop and heading to the water. Whether you’re wetting a line or just enjoying the company of someone special, those are the kinds of nights that turn into lifelong memories. Luckily, NGDB already recorded the soundtrack for those balmy evenings.

4. “Toes” by Zac Brown Band

When the days start getting longer and the mercury starts rising, people across the country start thinking about vacation. The Zac Brown Band captured that feeling perfectly with this banger from 2009. “Toes,” ZBB’s summer ode to relaxing on the beach, went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and No. 25 on the Hot 100.

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