It’s quite impossible to think of the ’90s without the contributions of Joe Diffie songs. His string of hits definitely helped define that decade in country music with his simple, honest, and often clever approach to storytelling.
With that in mind, let’s revisit some of the best hits Joe Diffie has contributed to America’s catalog. Keep on scrolling below!
1. “Home”
Whether you were raised in the country or city, you will definitely relate to Diffie’s “Home.” It will even stir strong emotions in you. After all, “everybody has a home in their memory,” the singer said.
It was released in 1990 as the lead-off single from his debut album A Thousand Winding Roads, and it rose atop all three major country charts that were existing during that time.
2. “Honky Tonk Attitude”
Diffie co-wrote this turbo-charged and steel driven song as a tribute to the line-dancing clubs as he heads to the honky-tonk to dance away his blues – after all, everyone needs to have that “honky-tonk attitude.”
3. “Pickup Man”
“Pickup Man” is the only song of Diffie to stay at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart for so long. The upbeat song tells the tale of a man whose truck gets a lot of attention. He believes he can meet the woman of his dreams just by driving it around.
4. “Ships That Don’t Come In”
Released as the second single from his second studio album Regular Joe, “Ships That Don’t Come In,” features Diffie wringing every last bit of emotion as he tells the tale of two men speculating about the nature of life while discussing at a bar.
5. “John Deere Green”
Diffie’s “John Deere Green” comes with all the makings of a classic country hit: stubborn teenagers from a small town and a feel-good nostalgia. It tells the captivating story of a teenage boy’s romantic gesture that no small-town girl could ever resist.
6. “Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die)”
What was once a humorous song of Diffie turned out to be a downhearted music now that he’s gone. It tells the tale of a man who has no fear of dying but should he die, he wants his body placed against a jukebox so that he will still be in a familiar environment after death.
7. “Third Rock from the Sun”
Released as the lead single from his album of the same name, “Third Rock from the Sun” is a bumbling story that’s a little bit hard to explain. Yet its chorus gives us a valuable lesson that “when (Earth is) spinning ’round, things come undone. Welcome to Earth, third rock from the Sun.”
8. “Bigger Than the Beatles”
“Bigger Than the Beatles” is the final No. 1 single in Diffie’s career. It tells the tale of a couple in love – an amateur rocker and his cocktail waitress girlfriend – and how they see each other as stars.
9. “New Way (To Light Up An Old Flame)”
Released as the fourth and final single from his debut album, the song peaked at No. 2 on the Hot Country Songs chart. It tells the tale of a man who aims to put a spark back into the eyes of his old flame. He wishes to get back with her with the help of “a little bit of luck and a hug.”
For You
10. “So Help Me Girl”
Diffie put a unique twist on the excitement of waking up in bed with a new lover for the first time. With Diffie’s signature twang, you’ll sense how the man has been hurt with his past relationships and how he is now falling fast and hard for the woman lying beside him.
11. “Texas Size Heartache”
The revival of Diffie’s career in 1998 came after his Greatest Hits compilation album, which includes “Texas Size Heartache” – one of the three newly recorded songs. Though the lyric is lightweight, Diffie’s upbeat performance took the song to the fourth spot on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Chart.
12. “If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets)”
Diffie focuses on a much lighter storyline in the third single off his debut album, which is a clever song about America’s love affair with easy money.
13. “That Road Not Taken”
Though this isn’t one of his biggest hits, it’s among the most memorable ones. “That Road Not Taken” finds Diffie pondering about the outcome of a relationship that he did not pursue.
14. “A Night to Remember”
Released as the first single and title track from his 1999 album, “A Night to Remember” tells the tale of a man who had an unforgettable night with a lost lover.
It peaked at No. 6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and was also a crossover hit, reaching No. 38 on Billboard Hot 100.
15. “In Another World”
“In Another World” is said to be “a shimmering ballad” perfect for Diffie’s expressive tenor. This is Diffie’s final Top 10 hit on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.
More Joe Diffie Songs That Sums Up His Ever-Reliable Career
Here are some more songs of Diffie featuring his traditional susceptibilities to humorous, rock-tinged novelties that made him a major Nashville star.
These Joe Diffie songs clearly show how successful his career was. We’ll never get tired of playing them over and over again.
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