Music

The Best Bluegrass Songs of All Time

Ranker Music
Updated May 2, 2020 3.7k votes 1.2k voters 72.9k views
List Rules
Upvote your favorite bluegrass songs and downvote the ones you don't like so much.

Bluegrass is an American roots music that is a subset of country music. With roots primarily in Appalachia, this style dates back to the 1800s, with many of the songs being used for Minstrel shows and often referred to as a mix between blues and jazz music. It reflects the hardships of living in rural Appalachia and the everyday life people live there. 

Many of these songs are just a snippet of amazing bluegrass albums by amazing artists, so be sure to check out the greatest bluegrass albums as well.
 

What are the best bluegrass songs of all time? It's time to decide. This list is votable and rerankable. Vote up the greatest bluegrass songs, and feel free to add any that you don't already see on here.

Photo:
list ordered by
  • Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms
    1

    Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms

    A fast-played bluegrass classic
  • Blue Moon of Kentucky
    2

    Blue Moon of Kentucky

    Famous bluegrass tune once covered by Elvis Presley.
  • Foggy Mountain Breakdown
    3

    Foggy Mountain Breakdown

    The quintessential bluegrass instrumental track.
  • Soldier's Joy
    4

    Soldier's Joy

  • Orange Blossom Special
    5

    Orange Blossom Special

    A quintessential tune for fiddlers, this song was once covered by Jonny Cash as well.
  • Can the Circle Be Unbroken
    6

    Can the Circle Be Unbroken

    Taken from a similarly name spiritual, The Careter Family rewrote their own version
  • John Henry
    7

    John Henry

    Best performed by the Lily Borthers.
  • I'm Sitting on Top of the World
    8
    popular bluegrass song written by
  • Rocky Top
    9

    Rocky Top

    A song that recalls a southern paradaise it is now the university of Tennesse's fight song.
  • Wayfaring Stranger
    10

    Wayfaring Stranger

    A bluegrass song from the 1800s about traveling through life.
  • Man of Constant Sorrow
    11

    Man of Constant Sorrow

    A bluegrass classic that was re-introduced to the public in the film "O Brother Where Art Thou"
  • Kentucky Waltz
    12

    Kentucky Waltz

    Classic Bill Monroe song from 1946
  • Fox On the Run
    13

    Fox On the Run

    Best performed by Emerson and Waldron
  • Nine Pound Hammer
    14

    Nine Pound Hammer

    Best performed by Tony
  • Feudin’ Banjos
    15

    Feudin’ Banjos

    The song made infamous by the film "Deliverance" 
  • Footprints in the Snow
    16

    Footprints in the Snow

    Best perfromed by Mac Wiseman
  • Molly and Tenbrooks
    17

    Molly and Tenbrooks

    Originally recorded by the Carver Boys under a slightly different title this song was then popularized by Bill Monroe in the '40s
  • I Wonder How the Old Folks Are at Home
    18

    I Wonder How the Old Folks Are at Home

    A classic nostalgic tune from The Carter Family.
  • Wabash Cannonball
    19

    Wabash Cannonball

    Best performed by Claire Lynch
  • Darling Corey
    20

    Darling Corey

    Best performed by the Seldom Scene
  • The Ballad of Jed Clampett
    21

    The Ballad of Jed Clampett

    Blue grass tune that became popular as the theme song from The Beverly Hillbillies.
  • Fireball Mail
    22

    Fireball Mail

    Best performed by the Lonesome River Band
  • A lonesome tune of longing this bluegrass tune is an undeniable classic.
  • Old Dan Tucker
    24

    Old Dan Tucker

    A popular bluegrass song from Oral traditions popularized in Minstrel shows.
  • Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
    25

    Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

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