The Best Bluegrass Songs of All Time

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.

list ordered by

1
129 41

Foggy Mountain Breakdown The quintessential bluegrass instrumental track.

2
94 35

Rocky Top A song that recalls a southern paradaise it is now the university of Tennesse's fight song.

3
59 16

Man of Constant Sorrow A bluegrass classic that was re-introduced to the public in the film "O Brother Where Art Thou"

4
77 32

Fox On the Run Best performed by Emerson and Waldron

5
65 24

Blue Moon of Kentucky Famous bluegrass tune once covered by Elvis Presley.

6
62 23

Can the Circle Be Unbroken Taken from a similarly name spiritual, The Careter Family rewrote their own version

7
50 16

Orange Blossom Special A quintessential tune for fiddlers, this song was once covered by Jonny Cash as well.

8
26 4

Wayfaring Stranger A bluegrass song from the 1800s about traveling through life.

9
33 9

Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms A fast-played bluegrass classic

10
48 22

Wabash Cannonball Best performed by Claire Lynch

11
34 12

John Henry Best performed by the Lily Borthers.

12
45 22

Nine Pound Hammer Best performed by Tony

13
32 13

Footprints in the Snow Best perfromed by Mac Wiseman

14
26 9

Feudin’ Banjos The song made infamous by the film "Deliverance"

15
19 4

Soldier's Joy

16
28 13

Bringing Mary Home Best performed by The Country Gentlemen

17
22 10

Kentucky Waltz Classic Bill Monroe song from 1946

18
20 9

Darling Corey Best performed by the Seldom Scene

20
18 8

Train 45 Best performed by Smiley Hobbs

21
19 9

The Ballad of Jed Clampett Blue grass tune that became popular as the theme song from The Beverly Hillbillies.

22
14 6

I Wonder How the Old Folks Are at Home A classic nostalgic tune from The Carter Family.

23
12 5

Fireball Mail Best performed by the Lonesome River Band

24
10 4

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

26
7 2

Red Wing

27
12 7

Down in the Willow Garden Best performed by Dave Evans

28
11 6

Love of the Mountains best performed by The Lost & Found

29
15 10

Old Dan Tucker A popular bluegrass song from Oral traditions popularized in Minstrel shows.

30
11 7

Pig in a Pen Best performed by the Stanley Brothers

31
10 6

Roving Gambler Another great Stanley Brothers bluegreass tune

32
10 6

The Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane A song from Will S. Hays popularized in old time monstrel shows.

33
7 3

Little Rosewood Casket Best performed by Don Reno

34
9 6

The Dream of the Miner's Child Another bluegrass classic by The Stanley Brothers or Ricky Skaggs.

35
7 4

I Hear a Sweet Voice Calling Another popular Bill Monroe song that was once covered and recorded by Elvis

36
7 4

The Devil's Dream An extremely old bluegrass fiddle tune

37
5 2

When You and I Were Young, Maggie A popular song from Springtown, Tennessee written by local George Johnson for his love, Maggie.

38
12 10

White House Blues Best performed by Del McCoury

39
9 7

Poor Ellen Smith Best performed by the Southern Mountain Boys

40
7 5

Lonesome Road Blues Best perfromed by Happy Smith

42
10 9

Atlanta Is Burning Best performed by The Boys from Indiana

43
9 8

Appalachian Mountain Girl Original catchy Alan Jackson bluegrass tune

44
9 8

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

45
7 6

Little Glass of Wine Best performed by Ralkph Stanley

46
4 3

Tiny Broken Heart Popular bluegrass song written by Charlie Louvin about a farm boy's broken heart

47
4 3

Yew Piney Mountain Another popular fiddler's tune from Appalachia

48
3 3

Old Rosin the Beau A popular bluegrass tune from the 1800s that was originally of irish or british origin.

49
9 13

Atheists Don’t Have No Songs A Steve Martin bluegrass tune that pays homage to its history of humor and a capella singing

50
2 6

Old Settler's Song (Acres of Clams) An old bluegrass tune from the Pacific Northwest (likely Washington)

1 129 41 Foggy Mountain Breakdown The quintessential bluegrass instrumental track.

2 94 35 Rocky Top A song that recalls a southern paradaise it is now the university of Tennesse's fight song.

3 59 16 Man of Constant Sorrow A bluegrass classic that was re-introduced to the public in the film "O Brother Where Art Thou"

4 77 32 Fox On the Run Best performed by Emerson and Waldron

5 65 24 Blue Moon of Kentucky Famous bluegrass tune once covered by Elvis Presley.

6 62 23 Can the Circle Be Unbroken Taken from a similarly name spiritual, The Careter Family rewrote their own version

7 50 16 Orange Blossom Special A quintessential tune for fiddlers, this song was once covered by Jonny Cash as well.

8 26 4 Wayfaring Stranger A bluegrass song from the 1800s about traveling through life.

9 33 9 Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms A fast-played bluegrass classic

10 48 22 Wabash Cannonball Best performed by Claire Lynch

11 34 12 John Henry Best performed by the Lily Borthers.

12 45 22 Nine Pound Hammer Best performed by Tony

13 32 13 Footprints in the Snow Best perfromed by Mac Wiseman

14 26 9 Feudin’ Banjos The song made infamous by the film "Deliverance"

15 19 4 Soldier's Joy

16 28 13 Bringing Mary Home Best performed by The Country Gentlemen

17 22 10 Kentucky Waltz Classic Bill Monroe song from 1946

18 20 9 Darling Corey Best performed by the Seldom Scene

19 14 4 I'm Sitting on Top of the World Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys - popular bluegrass song written by

20 18 8 Train 45 Best performed by Smiley Hobbs

21 19 9 The Ballad of Jed Clampett Blue grass tune that became popular as the theme song from The Beverly Hillbillies.

22 14 6 I Wonder How the Old Folks Are at Home A classic nostalgic tune from The Carter Family.

23 12 5 Fireball Mail Best performed by the Lonesome River Band

24 10 4 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

25 14 8 I Wonder Where You Are Tonight Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys - A lonesome tune of longing this bluegrass tune is an undeniable classic.

26 7 2 Red Wing

27 12 7 Down in the Willow Garden Best performed by Dave Evans

28 11 6 Love of the Mountains best performed by The Lost & Found

29 15 10 Old Dan Tucker A popular bluegrass song from Oral traditions popularized in Minstrel shows.

30 11 7 Pig in a Pen Best performed by the Stanley Brothers

31 10 6 Roving Gambler Another great Stanley Brothers bluegreass tune

32 10 6 The Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane A song from Will S. Hays popularized in old time monstrel shows.

33 7 3 Little Rosewood Casket Best performed by Don Reno

34 9 6 The Dream of the Miner's Child Another bluegrass classic by The Stanley Brothers or Ricky Skaggs.

35 7 4 I Hear a Sweet Voice Calling Another popular Bill Monroe song that was once covered and recorded by Elvis

36 7 4 The Devil's Dream An extremely old bluegrass fiddle tune

37 5 2 When You and I Were Young, Maggie A popular song from Springtown, Tennessee written by local George Johnson for his love, Maggie.

38 12 10 White House Blues Best performed by Del McCoury

39 9 7 Poor Ellen Smith Best performed by the Southern Mountain Boys

40 7 5 Lonesome Road Blues Best perfromed by Happy Smith

41 5 3 Raincheck added I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby Dolly Parton - #1 Hit song of The Louvin Brothers— A country dream-story in Bluegrass song.

42 10 9 Atlanta Is Burning Best performed by The Boys from Indiana

43 9 8 Appalachian Mountain Girl Original catchy Alan Jackson bluegrass tune

44 9 8 Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

45 7 6 Little Glass of Wine Best performed by Ralkph Stanley

46 4 3 Tiny Broken Heart Popular bluegrass song written by Charlie Louvin about a farm boy's broken heart

47 4 3 Yew Piney Mountain Another popular fiddler's tune from Appalachia

48 3 3 Old Rosin the Beau A popular bluegrass tune from the 1800s that was originally of irish or british origin.

49 9 13 Atheists Don’t Have No Songs A Steve Martin bluegrass tune that pays homage to its history of humor and a capella singing

50 2 6 Old Settler's Song (Acres of Clams) An old bluegrass tune from the Pacific Northwest (likely Washington)

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