What Is The Greatest Country Music Song Of All Time?

I can't narrow it down to one, but this would definitely be a finalist . . .

 

Not necessarily on the first one. To me, greatest implies also most impactful. Was Mohamed Ali the greatest fighter because he was "the best" fighter who ever lived? Or was he the greatest because of the impact he had not only on the sport of boxing, but because of the impact he made on the culture? I don't have a definitive answer, but I'm trying to suggest that it's not as black and white as you suggest.

Which brings us to your second point. I'd say that one could easily discuss and argue about greatest impact with facts and threads from one song to the next, and one generation to the next. That would be a more academic approach to the question.

 

“I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” by Hank Williams.

My favorite rendition is by Jimmie Dale Gilmore.

 

So many truly great songs listed here.

Yet for me, the aching, mournful timelessness and simplicity of Willie Nelson's recording of "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain" always makes me stop whatever I'm doing to listen.

 

Great list! You should get in the 'Country Music' compilation album business!

I know, it's just a bit of fun, there really is no 'greatest' country music song.
It's even stupid to find one contender.
But the idea is as you said, it 'introduces me to bands/songs I've never heard before'.
That's really the most important part about a 'throwaway' thread like this.

 

Outside of ol' Hank I'll nominate 'Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down' by Merle Haggard.

 

My 'greatest' today...
Merle Haggard - Misery & Gin
This guy doesn't just write songs, he 'crafts' them:

 

Overrated

 

Merle Haggard "Mama Tried".

 

Cash Rivers- "Corn Country"

 

Your Cheatin' Heart - Hank

 

I vote for "Crazy", too. Nothing even comes close, IMO.

 

Yep, chaps my hide.

 

Great song and a great version:

 

Friends in low places ....chris gaines

 

There's something 'smokin' hot about Patsy too.
Wow!

 

Mission Impossible
There is not a single ONE...

 

I don't know if it's the greatest but it's my favorite:

 

There's no serious way to answer the question. But here's a good one.

 

Okay, another one:

 

CCR is my favorite Country band. Or, maybe the Eagles...

 

I’ll go with Dolly Parton’s “Coat of Many Colors.”

 

I've watched that from VHS to DVD, to the newer version of it,
It still blows my head off how great this is!
I get goosebumps actually.

 

Oh man, thanks for clueing me in there. I was under the impression Dolly was a fine and respected songwriter.

 

I’ll go ahead and overrate her myself. She’s the finest singer-songwriter in country music history, and is in the top tier in popular music as a whole.