At some point in our lives, we’ve felt we should take a break from our busy schedule and spend a little more time under the sun. Being outdoors can be an excellent stress reliever and has even been shown to improve overall well-being. The great thing is there are plenty of country songs about the great outdoors that could accompany you.
Whether you’re looking for country songs about the mountains or great outdoors music, there are ones that you can pick to help you experience all the natural world has to offer.
So, without further ado, we’re giving you our top country songs about the great outdoors.
1. Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver
This is absolutely one of the most nostalgic country songs about the rural countryside! John Denver brought it to skyrocketing success after it was released as a single in 1971 off his album Poems, Prayers, and Promises. “Take Me Home, Country Roads” continued to resonate with country music fans and has since become one of Denver’s most popular tunes.
2. Fishin’ in the Dark by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
If you’re looking for the best country songs about fishing in the countryside, nothing beats Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s “Fishin’ in the Dark.” In the song, a couple contemplates a late-night fishing expedition by the river under the full moonlight. Their plan includes counting the stars as they lie down where the cool grass grows and falling in love in the middle of the night.
3. Rocky Mountain High by John Denver
John Denver truly has a knack for writing inspiring country songs about the wonders of the natural world. He actually wrote the track during the Perseid Meteor Shower while he was camping with friends and was primarily inspired by his move to Aspen, Colorado, as well as his love for the state. It’s no surprise “Rocky Mountain Hight” became a well-associated piece of Colorado history.
4. Knee Deep by Zac Brown Band (featuring Jimmy Buffett)
Here’s one of our favorite soulful country songs about the beauty of nature. In the song “Knee Deep,” Zac Brown finds himself mourning about a relationship gone bad. Eventually, he takes corrective action by buying a boat, taking a permanent vacation, and leaving all his worries behind. As long as he is knee-deep in the water, everything will be just fine.
5. Drinkin’ Beer and Wastin’ Bullets by Luke Bryan
Nothing can make us better than uplifting country songs about hunting in the wilderness. Take, for instance, Luke Bryan’s hilarious hunting song, which finds him spending a couple of hours in the great outdoors – sitting and waiting on a deer to hunt. It’s a song any avid hunter will absolutely relate to.
6. Cowboy Take Me Away by Dixie Chicks
If you’re looking for country songs about escaping to the mountains and leaving city life behind, then get ready to be swept away by Dixie Chicks’ “Cowboy Take Me Away.” It tells the story of a woman who wants to run away so she can look at the horizon and not see a building standing tall. The song quickly ranked No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and became the trio’s signature song.
7. Heads Carolina, Tails California by Jo Dee Messina
Did you find yourself thinking of running away with your lover to somewhere greener and warmer, whether it’s in the mountains or down by the ocean? Then Jo Dee Messina’s “Heads Carolina, Tails California” is something you’ll relate to. It’s one of the classic country songs about the simple life in the countryside that we always return to.
8. Keep Texas Beautiful by Jerry Jeff Walker
You’ve probably heard countless times how beautiful Texas is with its massive amount of mountains, meadows, rivers, and deserts – not to mention its wonderful national parks. Jerry Jeff Walker wants everyone to keep it beautiful. He noted how the state gets even prettier in the springtime and gets more beautiful with every passing day.
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9. Pass It on Down by Alabama
This is definitely one of the songs about wilderness that needs your attention. In the song, Alabama highlights how we are bringing Mother Nature to her knees – such as the changes taking place in the mountains and the water that’s no longer safe to drink. So, he’s asking to leave some blue up above us and some green on the ground. After all, it’s only ours to borrow.
10. Call Of The Wild by Chris Ledoux
Sometimes, all we want to do is get away from the busy day and concrete walls of our workplaces and just find our way into the tranquil wilderness of nature. If that’s what you’re feeling right now, then you’ll surely relate to Chris Ledoux’s “Call Of The Wild” – one of the best country songs about nature. It’s amazing how the song boasts vivid imagery that you can almost feel the thunder crashing and the wind whistling.
11. Green River by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Here’s one of our favorite songs about the countryside, which Creedence Clearwater Revival’s lead singer, John Fogerty, wrote. He did so while reminiscing about where he used to go as a kid on Putah Creek, near Winters, California.
It’s where he learned how to swim and had a fun rope hanging from a tree. The song tugged at the heartstrings of many fans that it became one of the band’s most popular songs, ranking No. 2 on Billboard Hot 100.
12. Huntin’, Fishin’, And Lovin’ Every Day by Luke Bryan
Luke Bryan gives us a glimpse into his rural lifestyle in his home state of Georgia. A place where he goes hunting, fishing, and loving every day – something that every country boy prays for. The song’s simple message further endears Bryan to the fans that it ranked No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.
13. Shut Up and Fish by Maddie & Tae
Country songs about fishing seem endless, and here’s one of our favorites. Maddie & Tae’s “Shut Up and Fish” is a honky-tonk number recalling a boy’s badly timed advances during a fishing trip. Interestingly, the duo revealed that the song was inspired by a real-life date they went on.
14. Sweet Summer Loving by Dolly Parton
No one knows summertime adventure and summertime love better than Dolly Parton. In this song, she sings about “running barefoot and feeling free” and “sweet summer lovin’ in the dandelions.” The romantic ballad reached No. 7 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and even topped in Yugoslavia.
15. Arkansas by Chris Stapleton
Here’s one of the powerful country songs about the majesty of the open road. Chris Stapleton remarkably turned road trips into music. He said “Arkansas” was born while driving a car his wife picked out for his birthday from Oklahoma City back home to Nashville.
Truly, these country songs about the great outdoors make you want to lace up your boots, grab a walking stick, and just be one with nature. After all, feeling the warm sunshine on your face, listening to the wind rushing through the trees, and experiencing the soft earthy feel of the trail aren’t only enjoyable experiences, but they are good for you as well.
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