The Best Country Songs From the 50s

Country music is the most popular genre of music and its popularity stems from classic country songs such as these from the 1950s that have paved the way for other, more current artists. The country songs of the 1950s are steeped in Americana and tell the story of ordinary, hard working, hard drinking, and long suffering people just like many of us.

The songs on this list from top classic country artists such as Don Gibson, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, and Hank Williams. Vote up the greatest 1950s country songs, or add a song that makes you love '50s country music it if it isn't already on the list.

list ordered by

1
239 65

Your Cheatin’ Heart This sad, loverlorn song is another hit from Hank Williams from 1952.

2
214 54

Walkin’ After Midnight This 1950s hit from Patsy Cline peaked at #2 on the charts and essentially launched her storied country career.

3
327 108

I Walk the Line This love song to June Carter is a classic '50s hit from Johnny Cash that is stark, epic, and lovelorn.

4
272 83

Hey, Good Lookin This 1951 hit from Hank WIlliams was one in a line of jukebox hits for the country singer throughout the '50s

6
163 42

Cold, Cold Heart A 1951 classic ballad from Hank Williams that proved to be a popular radio play.

7
199 62

The Battle of New Orleans 1959 hit for Johnny Horton that tells of the 1815 battle of new orleans from the perspective of an American Soldier.

8
166 58

Oh Lonesome Me 1958 Don Gibson hit that would go on to be re-recorded by other like Ray Charles

9
144 46

A White Sport Coat A 1957 country hit for Marty Robbins

10
134 41

Heartaches by the Number Another classic 1950s hit from Ray Price

11
152 54

Sixteen Tons A 1955 hit about the difficult days in the coal mine.

12
145 50

Jambalaya Popular 1952 hit from Hank Williams that was an old to the creole concoction

13
141 48

Tennessee Waltz 1950 hit by Patty Page that would become that state's official song in the 1960s.

14
134 47

White Lightning 1955 George Jones hit about moonshine

15
124 43

He'll Have to Go 1959 Jim reeves hit written by Joe and Audrey Allison

16
111 40

It Wasn't Go Who Made Honky Tonk Angels this Kitty Wells hit was the response to "The Wild Side of LIfe" shortly after its release in 19532 becomeing the housewives country antjem of the early 1950s

17
99 38

Kisses Sweeter Than Wine 1957 Jimmie Rodgers song written by The Weavers.

18
97 37

Crazy Arms 1952 Ray Price hit that spent 20 weeks on the chart.

19
94 35

Heartbreak Hotel this 1956 Elvis hit was the King's first country-pop crossover hit.

20
94 36

I’m Moving On The 1950 hit that launched Hank Snow's career in country music.

21
93 36

Great Balls of Fire Infectious song from the country-pop corssover aritsi Jerry Lee Lewis from 1957

22
103 44

Release Me 1952 hit for Ray Price from an original 1946 song by Eddie Miller

23
83 33

Singing the Blues 1956 hit for crooner Marty Robbins

24
90 44

Hound Dog 1956 Elvis hit that was the B-Side to "Don't Be Cruel"

26
70 36

Why Don’t You Love Me Another 1950 hit for Hank WIlliams that reached #1 on the country charts.

27
72 38

The Wild Side of Life This Hank Thompson #1 smash was a hit in 1952

28
75 42

The Ballad of Davy Crockett 1955 hit by Tennessee Ernie Ford that would be the theme song for the popular TV show

29
86 52

corey75419825 added Cattle Call

30
70 39

Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On 1957 smash from country-pop crossover Jerry Lee Lewis. Song was #61 on Rolling songs best songs of all time.

31
62 35

Gone 1957 hit by Ferlin Husky

32
56 35

Hard Hearted Woman 1958 Elvis hit written by Claude Demetrius

34
51 37

Moanin’ the Blues 1952 hit for Hank WIlliams that made his a steady jukebox play during the decade.

35
53 39

Goodnight Irene 1950 hit from Ernet Tubb & Red Foley.

36
44 35

I'll Be There (if You Ever Want Me) 1954 Ray price hit that has been re-rcorded by numerous artist such as george jones, tammy wynette and others

37
51 42

I Want You I Need You I Love You 1956 hit from Elvis written by Maurice Mysels and Ira Kosloff

38
44 37

Mystery Train 1955 Elvis release that ranks as #77 on Rolling Stone's 500 greatest songs of all time.

40
3 1

Mark Lanzarotta added That’s All Right, Elvis Presley

41
34 45

Forgot to Remember to Forget 1955 brooding Elvis hit with a steel guiatr sound.

42
32 46

Raunchy 1957 hit by Bill Justis. Song written by Justis and SId Manker.

43
30 52

Down Yonder 1951 hit by Del Wood

1 239 65 Your Cheatin’ Heart This sad, loverlorn song is another hit from Hank Williams from 1952.

2 214 54 Walkin’ After Midnight This 1950s hit from Patsy Cline peaked at #2 on the charts and essentially launched her storied country career.

3 327 108 I Walk the Line This love song to June Carter is a classic '50s hit from Johnny Cash that is stark, epic, and lovelorn.

4 272 83 Hey, Good Lookin This 1951 hit from Hank WIlliams was one in a line of jukebox hits for the country singer throughout the '50s

5 212 60 El Paso Marty Robbins - 1959 hit for Marty Robbins that featured a Spanish guitar and is an ode to the city of its title.

6 163 42 Cold, Cold Heart A 1951 classic ballad from Hank Williams that proved to be a popular radio play.

7 199 62 The Battle of New Orleans 1959 hit for Johnny Horton that tells of the 1815 battle of new orleans from the perspective of an American Soldier.

8 166 58 Oh Lonesome Me 1958 Don Gibson hit that would go on to be re-recorded by other like Ray Charles

9 144 46 A White Sport Coat A 1957 country hit for Marty Robbins

10 134 41 Heartaches by the Number Another classic 1950s hit from Ray Price

11 152 54 Sixteen Tons A 1955 hit about the difficult days in the coal mine.

12 145 50 Jambalaya Popular 1952 hit from Hank Williams that was an old to the creole concoction

13 141 48 Tennessee Waltz 1950 hit by Patty Page that would become that state's official song in the 1960s.

14 134 47 White Lightning 1955 George Jones hit about moonshine

15 124 43 He'll Have to Go 1959 Jim reeves hit written by Joe and Audrey Allison

16 111 40 It Wasn't Go Who Made Honky Tonk Angels this Kitty Wells hit was the response to "The Wild Side of LIfe" shortly after its release in 19532 becomeing the housewives country antjem of the early 1950s

17 99 38 Kisses Sweeter Than Wine 1957 Jimmie Rodgers song written by The Weavers.

18 97 37 Crazy Arms 1952 Ray Price hit that spent 20 weeks on the chart.

19 94 35 Heartbreak Hotel this 1956 Elvis hit was the King's first country-pop crossover hit.

20 94 36 I’m Moving On The 1950 hit that launched Hank Snow's career in country music.

21 93 36 Great Balls of Fire Infectious song from the country-pop corssover aritsi Jerry Lee Lewis from 1957

22 103 44 Release Me 1952 hit for Ray Price from an original 1946 song by Eddie Miller

23 83 33 Singing the Blues 1956 hit for crooner Marty Robbins

24 90 44 Hound Dog 1956 Elvis hit that was the B-Side to "Don't Be Cruel"

25 74 32 Long Gone Lonesome Blues Hank Williams and His Drifting Cowboys, Hank Williams - A 1950 hit for Hank WIliams that topped the charts for weeks on end.

26 70 36 Why Don’t You Love Me Another 1950 hit for Hank WIlliams that reached #1 on the country charts.

27 72 38 The Wild Side of Life This Hank Thompson #1 smash was a hit in 1952

28 75 42 The Ballad of Davy Crockett 1955 hit by Tennessee Ernie Ford that would be the theme song for the popular TV show

29 86 52 corey75419825 added Cattle Call

30 70 39 Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On 1957 smash from country-pop crossover Jerry Lee Lewis. Song was #61 on Rolling songs best songs of all time.

31 62 35 Gone 1957 hit by Ferlin Husky

32 56 35 Hard Hearted Woman 1958 Elvis hit written by Claude Demetrius

33 52 34 On Top of Old Smokey Grant Green - A 1951 hit for The Weavers & Terry Gilkyson

34 51 37 Moanin’ the Blues 1952 hit for Hank WIlliams that made his a steady jukebox play during the decade.

35 53 39 Goodnight Irene 1950 hit from Ernet Tubb & Red Foley.

36 44 35 I'll Be There (if You Ever Want Me) 1954 Ray price hit that has been re-rcorded by numerous artist such as george jones, tammy wynette and others

37 51 42 I Want You I Need You I Love You 1956 hit from Elvis written by Maurice Mysels and Ira Kosloff

38 44 37 Mystery Train 1955 Elvis release that ranks as #77 on Rolling Stone's 500 greatest songs of all time.

39 37 33 Captainharry added I Never Go Around Mirrors Lefty Frizzell

40 3 1 Mark Lanzarotta added That’s All Right, Elvis Presley

41 34 45 Forgot to Remember to Forget 1955 brooding Elvis hit with a steel guiatr sound.

42 32 46 Raunchy 1957 hit by Bill Justis. Song written by Justis and SId Manker.

43 30 52 Down Yonder 1951 hit by Del Wood

44 11 63 Cyrus Waugh added Cruise Florida Georgia Line

not on the list? add item #45 List Rules: Vote up and add all of your favorite country songs from the 1950s.