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35 best songs about memories & good times of all time.

Feeling nostalgic?

I’ve put together the best songs about memories to take you on a trip down memory lane.

This playlist of sentimental hits across genres will have you reminiscing about the past and reliving cherished moments.

Get ready to walk down memory road with these tunes about recollections and looking back.

Quick answer (author’s top picks): what are the best songs about memories?

“Reflecting on life’s journey, Elvis Presley’s “Memories” strikes a chord with its tender recollections, while Queen captures poignant nostalgia in “These Are The Days Of Our Lives.” Additionally, The Beatles’ “In My Life” resonates deeply with me, as it encapsulates the bittersweet nature of looking back, making these tracks some of my personal pillars for songs about memories.” Will Fenton, Founder of MidderMusic & Overblown music magazine

Top picks of songs about memories

• Elvis Presley – “Memories”
• Queen – “These Are The Days Of Our Lives”
• The Beatles – “In My Life”
• Bruce Springsteen – “Glory Days”
• Barbra Streisand – “The Way We Were”
• Bryan Adams – “Summer Of ’69”
• Bon Jovi – “(You Want To) Make A Memory”
• Michael Jackson – “Remember The Time”
• Earth, Wind & Fire – “September”
• David Guetta Feat. Kid Cudi – “Memories”

1. Elvis Presley – “Memories”

A classic from the fifties hip-shaking crooner himself, chock-full of similes and comparisons that give his memories a bittersweet tinge.

He reminisces on past love and describes his memories as aging like fine wine. At the end of the day, they are all we have and it is nice to look back from time to time.

2. Queen – “These Are The Days Of Our Lives” 

“You can’t turn back the clock you can’t turn back the tide Ain’t that a shame I’d like to go back one time on a roller coaster ride When life was just a game”

Queen gives us a walk down memory lane as they reflect on simpler times when the bad days were few and far between.

The lyrics remind us that we are making memories constantly and should remember that “these” could be the days of our lives that we reflect on later…

Don’t forget to pin this playlist for later!

3. The Beatles – “In My Life”

We attach memories of people and specific moments to objects and places where we spent time together.

When it comes to songs about memories none explain the way that we still hold the same affection for people in our past quite as honestly.

“There are places I’ll remember All my life though some have changed Some forever, not for better Some have gone and some remain”

4. Bruce Springsteen – “Glory Days”

Many songs about memories highlight trying to recapture your youth, something we are all guilty of trying now and then.

This one does just that! It tells the narrative of a couple of friends from times gone by.

“Glory days well they’ll pass you by Glory days in the wink of a young girl’s eye Glory days, glory days”

We often think of acquaintances when we look back on good times.

5. Barbra Streisand – “The Way We Were”

Some memories are painful to relive, we can torture ourselves mentally. One of those meatier songs about memories that endeavors to present some of the trickier questions that can plague a mind when you look back…

“Can it be that it was all so simple then? Or has time rewritten every line? If we had the chance to do it all again Tell me, would we? Could we?”

Streisand delivers the emotion like a pro, and the lyrics are very poetic;

“Scattered pictures Of the smiles we left behind”

6. Bryan Adams – “Summer Of ’69”

“Those were the best days of my life”

We all have memories of the days we hold dear, the greatest moments or periods in our lives. Those are the memories we like to relive the most.

Adams’ power ballad recounts a fictional summer filled to the brim with memories.

7. Bon Jovi – “(You Want To) Make A Memory”

In what was one of the most soulful deliveries Bon Jovi has ever given us, we hear about an emotional memory-filled exchange between past lovers. Bon Jovi seductively asks “You wanna make a memory?” as he trawls through old photographs.

Nostalgia aside, it never hurts to want to make new memories.

8. Michael Jackson – “Remember The Time”

A fusion track released by the Prince of Pop…

Similar to Jovi reminiscing about past love, Jackson gives us his version of events with an upbeat, urban-infused mixture of edgy (for the time) R&B-come- hip-hop dance song about memories.

“Do you remember the time When we fell in love?”

9. Earth, Wind & Fire – “September”

A dazzling disco track full of infectious grooves from seventies sensations Earth Wind & Fire. As you would expect it’s lively and infused with their unmistakable horn section.

The memories recounted in this one center around a specific date, which the writer says was simply chosen for the way it sounded rhythmically. His wife later shared that it was their son’s due date.

“Do you remember The 21st night of September? Love was changin’ the minds of pretenders While chasin’ the clouds away”

10. David Guetta Feat. Kid Cudi – “Memories”

Kid Cudi lays down some memory-fuelled l bars over David Guetta’s track. He expresses the desire to let go of everything for one crazy right and make memories that last a lifetime.

Often the nights we remember are the ones that stand apart from the rest. His sentiments resonate with the youth of today, grab life and live it to the max …

Who doesn’t want a truckload of stories to tell when they are past their glory days?

11. Adele – “When We Were Young”

Adele gives us a reflective soul ballad, though the singer-songwriter has many songs about memories, I settled on this one as musically it has a real seventies vibe and it is nice to hear something different from her.

The lyrics are deep and provoking;

“Let me photograph you in this light In case it is the last time That we might be exactly like we were Before we realized We were scared of getting old”

12. Maroon Five – “Memories”

This song about memories is more of a song about loss. The lyrics speak of memories throughout and we can all relate to the opening lines conceptually speaking.

The singer says the following;

“Here’s to the ones that we got Cheers to the wish you were here, but you’re not”

To dub those who are no longer in our lives as “the wish you were here, but you’re not’ evokes strong imagery and heavily resonates.

But, those we are missing who only live in our memories, don’t necessarily need to be dead, just old friends and acquaintances that have moved on.

13. Shawn Mendes – “Memories”

Memories are something we all have to hold on to so it should come as no surprise that the word itself is a strong one and needs very little explanation.

We all know what memories are, they are unique to the individual but a mutual idea, this is probably the reason for so many songs nostalgic songs being titled simply with the word memory or memories.

Mendes sings to his partner and encourages them to write their own story and leave their mark on this world in this pop-rock track.

“Let’s hang our pictures on the wall All these precious moments That we carved in stone Are only memories after all”

14. Corinne Bailey Rae – “Put Your Records On”

The joyfully sweet tones of Corinne Bailey Rae trickle like honey all over this cute track with its lackadaisical guitar and urban-flavored beat.

She sings about her youth, playing double-dutch and enjoying life encouraging her ‘girlfriends’ to put their favorite records on and live life.

15. Sarah McLachlan – “I Will Remember You”

From the soundtrack of the movie “The Brothers McCullen”, this song about remembering is full of rhetorical questions and promises.

Sometimes we reflect on relationships that ended for the wrong reasons. We regret walking away.

“Remember the good times that we had? I let them slip away from us when things got bad”

The lyrics describe this well and are very deep in places.

16. Miranda Lambert – “Automatic”

Whilst the majority of songs about memories are personal and emotional reflections that statement doesn’t apply to this one.

Sure it is still packed to the rafters with retro references and is a past-tense playground but the topic of discussion centers around technology.

It is fair to say that tech evolves rapidly and the last couple of generations have seen enormous changes.

Lambert reflects on the “Automatic” nature of the world we now live in comparing it to days gone by.

“If you had something to say You’d write it on a piece of paper Then you put a stamp on it And they’d get it three days later ”

17. Weezer – “Memories”

This track was written about the band’s downtime between shows, you go from the exhilarating rollercoaster peaks of touring and gigging to not doing much at all.

For the singer, this is when the memories are most important and they come flooding in.

A few of the members of Jackass lent their vocals for the backing of this one and after Ryan Dunn passed the video became super popular for featuring the skater.

18. John Denver – “Back Home Again”

Often we get a song written in the past tense when it is reflecting upon memories but Denver gives it to us in the present in real-time as he sings about the feelings you get when you go back home to visit and the memories stain the landscape.

“Hey, it’s good to be back home again Sometimes this old farm feels like a long lost friend Yes, ‘n, hey it’s good to be back home again”

19. Simon & Garfunkel – “Bookends”

From the soundtrack of “The Graduate”, Simon and Garfunkel deliver us a haunting song that lyrically only contains four lines that warn us to preserve our memories…

“Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph Preserve your memories; They’re all that’s left you”

The lines are poetic but simple and to the chilling point.

20. Dierks Bentley – “Every Mile a Memory”

This one is a potent country track that secured Bently his 4th number one record. The lyrics have a typical country style, with classic old dirt road themes.

They take the listener on a journey of reminiscing as the driver passes places that hold deep-rooted e memories of one girl in particular.

Like many of the other songs about memories that I have included in this round-up, the recurring theme is that there is a strong bond between location and the memory imprinted upon it.

21. Corey Tynan – “Hold Onto The Memories”

This one also goes by the title “The Graduation Song” because it is focused on that transitional period in life, a reflection of youth, and the embarkment on the adventure of adulthood.

“The sun has set On everything we know Friends we’ve made I don’t want to let go”

The protagonist seems lost in his feelings, on the one hand, there is a sense of sadness and on the other, he asks if he keeps their memories can he use what he has learned as guidance for life ahead.

22. Thomas Rhett – “Remember You Young”

A nostalgic country song that the singer has filled with personal family references, delivered in a way that doesn’t alienate a listener outside of his circle.

The lyrics have a friendly, tongue-in-cheek feel as the protagonist acknowledges how all of his “buddies” have grown up into responsible adults but he still dares to remind them that not so long ago they were far from it.

The takeaway sentiment is that he will always remember them “young” because those were the good times.

23. Keith Urban – “Making Memories of Us”

This is one of those songs about memories that look towards the future and promise to make memories that are fulfilling with the one he loves.

Keith Urban gives us some sweet lines full of romance as he confesses his undying love for the apple of his eye.

“And I’m gonna love you Like nobody loves you And I’ll earn your trust Makin’ memories of us”

Some very strong promises (no seriously he declares he wants to die in her arms someday!)

24. Randy Houser – “Senior Year”

Most of us attend some sort of education and being a huge rite of passage it regularly crops up in our memory bank from time to time.

Randy Housner gives us a cheeky peek back at youth with this one which discusses poor, but ultimately fun decisions…

“Skippin’ school, smokin’ out Spring break hell you can’t even talk about ”

25. Leonard Cohen – “Memories”

This song is a little more sex-centered than many of Cohen’s tracks, it tells the narrative of teenage lust and trying to navigate the world of love during that time when you are not quite an adult…

He propositions a beautiful tall blonde girl in a high-school gym at a dance and tries his luck.

The lyrics are more risque than you might be used to from the singer;

“Just dance me to the dark side of the gym Chances are I’ll let you do almost anything I know you’re hungry, I can hear it in your voice And there are many parts of me to touch, you have your choice”

26. Green Day – “Good Riddance”

Billy Joel urges us all to;

“Take the photographs and still frames in your mind Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time Tattoos of memories, and dead skin on trial”

Our memories should be cherished, especially the good ones, he boils down his reasoning, hoping that at the end of the day, we will be able to say that we have had the time of our lives.

A top song about the good times for any nostalgic playlist in anyone’s books.

27. Amnesia – “5 Seconds of Summer”

Of course, I can’t have an article full of songs about memories without including one that expresses the memories you’d like to forget.

When love ends abruptly, for whatever reason the memories left can be painful.

“5 Seconds of Summer” tells us that they are “not fine at all” and wonder how the other could have moved on so quickly as they remember things differently.

“The pictures that you sent me they’re still living in my phone I’ll admit I like to see them, I’ll admit I feel alone ”

28. OneRepublic – “Kids”

This electro-pop-rock track draws inspiration musically from the popular genres of the 80s decade.

Ryan Tedder explains that despite the uncertainty of what lies ahead he will never change and refuses to believe that the good old days have passed by yet!

The lyrics are very reflective making it one of those grade-a songs about memories with a personal touch.

“I remember We were sleeping in cars, we were searching for OZ We were burning cigars with white plastics tips ’til we saw the sun”

29. Fall Out Boy – “Thnks fr the Mmrs”

This disemvoweled hit was a huge success for the band at the time. It is a song that focuses on the negative sides of fame.

The title was shortened sarcastically because the label had criticized the length of the band’s titles in the past.

“I’m looking forward to the future But my eyesight is going bad And this crystal ball It’s always cloudy except for (except for) When you look into the past (look into the past)”

As well as reminiscing it has this no-fear vibe in regards to the future whatever it may be.

30. Fun – “We Are Young”

This one was a surprise hit for the gang as the first recording was nowhere near as well-received, but in round two with fresh production and a new direction, it is a pumping anthemic track that reminds us to enjoy our days.

The narrative was initially inspired by a heavy night of drinking which didn’t end favorably.

However, the song takes things in a different direction.

The drumbeat throughout is almost reminiscent of a call to arms, life and the memories we make are worth fighting for.

31. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis – “Good Old Days”

“I wish somebody would have told me babe Some day, these will be the good old days All the love you won’t forget And all these reckless nights you won’t regret”

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis take us through their thoughts, they echo a Joni Mitchell-style sentiment.

Sometimes we don’t know what we had at the moment until we reflect upon it later.

Although it seems on the surface to be a little negative and tinged with regret it still presents an optimistic edge.

32. Babara Streisand – “Memory”

Typically songs from musical theatre don’t go down as well in the mainstream music industry, but this track was a big hit for Streisand.

Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote this tune for ‘Grisabella’ an old moggy who is well past her prime as she reflects on when she was younger.

The words have a darkness to them and are in places depressing but paint a picture that many older women, in particular, may feel resonates.

The lyrics for “Memory” were adapted from “Rhapsody on a Windy Night” by T.S Elliot.

33. Nickleback – “Photograph”

Love them or hate them Nickelback’s “Photograph” is without a shadow of a doubt one of those songs about memories I had to include.

You’ll simply have to accept it or pardon me, not sure which!

The lyrics are autobiographical and draw heavily from the singer’s real-life experiences.

He talks about his childhood and teen years and mentions many silly memories, which after all are the ones that spring to mind first when you think about the friends of your youth.

34. Van Morrison – “Brown Eyed Girl”

“Hey, where did we go?”

As we grow up it is only when we reflect that we see how far we have come, we change on a subtle basis as people and sometimes we get to a point where we are no longer who we were.

Van gives us some of his pressing questions in this sing-along crowd-pleaser.

“Whatever happened To Tuesday and so slow? ”

35. Elton John – “Crocodile Rock”

Finally, I have saved a spot for this rock and roll number chock-full of nostalgia from none other than Sir Elton.

With delicious fifties flavoring, he gives us a fast-paced, rendition that reflects upon the earlier days of rock and roll which he believes brought better music.

“I remember when rock was young Me and Susie had so much fun”

The Crocodile Rock in question is the signature sound that evolved into something totally different. It oozes Nostalgia for anyone who lived through the decade.

“But the years went by and the rock just died Susie went and left us for some foreign guy”

Wrapping Up My List of the Best Songs About Memories

And with that, I wrap up my memories music playlist and encourage you to dig through your music to reminisce.

A song about memories will have you feeling nostalgic in no time. The throwback styles of music, expressions that may have long since gone out of fashion, and the shoutouts to items that are no longer in production.

The music videos that accompany them are also usually great fun to watch as well.

If you find yourself needing to throw together something commemorative, hopefully with my eclectic list of songs about memories you will have the soundtrack you need to accompany your retro pics!

Related Articles:

• 45 Best Songs About Growing Up
• 50 Best Songs About Home

Why do songs remind us of memories?

Songs can evoke memories and emotions due to the way our brains process music. The auditory cortex, which processes sound, is located close to the hippocampus and amygdala, brain regions that are responsible for memory and emotions. When we hear a song that we associate with a particular event or time in our lives, the brain connects the music to the memories and emotions associated with that experience. This is why hearing a certain song can trigger vivid memories and feelings from the past, even years after the original event occurred.

Why does a certain song remind you of someone?

A certain song can remind you of someone due to the strong emotional associations that music can create. If you hear a particular song frequently with someone you know, it can become linked with that person in your mind. Additionally, if the lyrics or melody of a song evokes memories of a shared experience with that person, the song can trigger associations with them. Furthermore, the emotions associated with the person or experience may become linked with the song, so hearing it can bring back those emotions and memories. The combination of these factors can cause a particular song to become strongly associated with a specific individual in your mind.

What are some songs about memories with friends?

Some good songs about memories with friends are “What About Your Friends” by TLC, “You’re My Best Friend” by Queen, and “I’ll Be There for You” by The Rembrandts.

Will Fenton

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The best road trip songs of all time

These road trip songs will make your next excursion a memorable one, whether you’re driving for few hours or a few days

Don’t get us wrong—we really love city life. But sometimes day-tripping to a nearby summer music festival doesn’t quite satiate our need for escape, and that’s where these classic road trip songs come in. When the urge strikes, it’s time to hit the highway/motorway/ whatever for a good, old-fashioned road trip. Of course, you can’t drive in complete silence—well, you can, but the very thought is giving us a flat tyre—so we’ve compiled our list of the best road trip songs to get your motors running and propel your journey into fifth gear. Crank up classics from the Boss, the Dead and Prince, and even some Whitesnake, as you cruise along the open road, forgetting every care in the world.

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Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

Best road trip songs, ranked

1.  ‘born to run’ by bruce springsteen.

Like Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Born in the U.S.A.,’ ‘Born to Run’ is darker than it may seem. Embedded in the scuffed poetry of the lyrics is a potent combination of rebellion, sex, disgust and determination—brought to life by the throaty passion of Springsteen’s voice, the liberating wail of Clarence Clemons’s sax and the sheer propulsive force of the E Street Band’s backup. “Someday girl, I don’t know when/We’re gonna get to that place where we really wanna go,” Springsteen promises. ‘Born to Run’, for all its spikes, takes you there. It’s a love song, an urban-jungle cry and a perfect anthem of pedal-to-the-metal escape.

2.  ‘Little Red Corvette’ by Prince

It doesn’t take a B.A. in poetry to figure this ditty’s got nothing to do with cars. In the world of Prince, coupés are women, horsepower is a pack of Trojan condoms, and gas is stamina in the sheets. The beat takes its time, synthetic drums echoing into the distance, just as the Purple One implores his one-night stand to take it slow, to make it two, three or more nights. Dez Dickerson peels out in the guitar solo, but she’s the one driving here. Perfect choice of car model—elusive, American, curvy, risky. It wouldn’t work as a Ferrari or Rolls.

3.  ‘Here I Go Again’ by Whitesnake

Been dumped recently? You need to go for a drive (preferably in a Jaguar XJ). You’ve made up your mind. You ain’t wasting no more time. So tease your hair, don your pleather, and crank up the volume on this 1982 hit—just try not to get stuck in traffic. This power ballad works better on the open road (with no adjacent drivers to judge your Coverdale cover moves).

4.  ‘Where the Streets Have No Name’ by U2

This anthemic opening track from U2’s landmark 1987 LP, The Joshua Tree, is an ideal kick-starter for any road trip (particularly if you're wandering about the California desert where the titular yucca plant is commonly found). From a whisper, the sound of an organ builds up like a spiritual beacon being unveiled. It’s well over a minute before the Edge’s churning guitar and Adam Clayton’s propulsive bassline kick in, and another 40 seconds before Bono’s vocals touch down. By then, you’re ready to hit top gear and wail along: ‘I want to run/I want to hide/I want to tear down the walls that hold me inside.’ Though this road trip song is about Bono’s vision of an Ireland free from class boundaries, it has inspired countless highway warriors to venture out to those places that maybe aren’t on the map.

5.  ‘Love Shack’ by the B-52s

‘Hop in my Chrysler! It’s as big as a whale, and it’s about to set sail!’ booms Fred Schneider on this all-time great party song . Admittedly, it’s hard to dance like no one’s watching when you’re behind the wheel of a Chrysler (or a Fiat Punto, for that matter), but ‘Love Shack’ will liven up any road trip. If your bum’s getting numb, just whack it on and have yourself a little front or backseat disco. 

6.  ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ by Lynyrd Skynyrd

American football possibly killed off Southern boogie rock. Hear us out. Because of college pigskin rivalries, this song could not be made today. College football is a matter of life and death down there, literally. Iconic trees and people have been murdered over games. Skynyrd was born deep in SEC country: The boogie-rock brothers were from Jacksonville, not Alabama, and cut the track in Georgia. Could you imagine a bunch of Gators fans cutting a tune that could in any way be construed as ‘Roll Tide’? Yankees and rivals love to mock and loathe the Crimson Tide, but when this ditty plays, every human in the room, no matter the allegiance, becomes a temporary, gen-u-wine Mobile redneck.

7.  ‘I Drove All Night’ by Cyndi Lauper

The irreverent thrift-shop spunk that defined Cyndi Lauper’s persona in the 1980s sometimes overshadowed her killer range and sensitivity as a vocalist, but ‘I Drove All Night’—from her third album, 1989’s ‘A Time to Remember’—finds her in a different mode. Driven by a feverish desire, she takes the wheel and makes her own way to her lover’s bed. (She may coyly ask, ‘Is that all right?’ but by that time she’s already done it.) And Lauper’s impressively sustained last note is a perfect expression of the song’s sense of undeterrable yearning.

8.  ‘Fast Car’ by Tracy Chapman

Tracy Chapman’s beautifully direct 1988 hit, from her eponymous debut album, gives escapism an especially poignant twist. The speeding car and its romantic freedom (‘City lights stretched out before us/Your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder’) can’t be separated from what it’s speeding from: a life of urban poverty, trapped taking care of deadbeats—first a drunk father and then, at the end, the very driver that she had dreamed might carry her to rescue.

9.  ‘Keep the Car Running’ by Arcade Fire

If there’s one quality that characterizes Arcade Fire’s sound, it’s urgency—and nowhere is that more evident than on ‘Keep the Car Running’ from the band’s super noir, grandiose 2007 ‘Neon Bible’ album. Based on singer Win Butler’s childhood nightmares (‘Men are coming to take me away!’ he pines), ‘Keep the Car Running’ expands these fears into a sense of global anxiety, and the certainty that there must be something better down the road (‘Don’t know why, but I know I can’t stay’). On its release, the song was likened to prime-era Bruce Springsteen; imagine fans’ joy when Butler and Régine Chassagne made a surprise showing at the Boss’s stadium gig to bust out the song with him. Warning: You will need to be super-careful not to break the speed limit if you play this song while driving.

10.  ‘Truckin’’ by Grateful Dead

Let us pause, and acknowledge the fact that this road trip song has been recognised by the U.S. Library of Congress as a national treasure. Mmmm. Written and performed communally by Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Bob Weir and lyricist Robert Hunter, the catchy, bluesy shuffle turns the band’s misfortunes on the road into a metaphor for getting through life’s constant changes. And really, what’s a good trip—or a good life—if you can’t exclaim at the end, ‘What a long, strange trip it’s been’?

11.  ‘Road to Nowhere’ by Talking Heads

The gospel-choir intro to this upbeat single, off 1985’s ‘Little Creatures’ LP , makes for a great start to any road-trip mix. The song celebrates the journey over the destination—as frontman David Byrne puts it, ‘I wanted to write a song that presented a resigned, even joyful look at doom.’ (Typical of him.) Not every end point is a good one, but we’ll be damned if this march doesn’t have us enjoying the ride.

12.  ‘Graceland’ by Paul Simon

Road trips are a time for contemplation, whether we expect it (or like it) or not. Paul Simon’s 1986 single is a perfect, toe-tapping example—we’re treated to what’s basically his stream of consciousness on a drive to Graceland with his son after the failure of his marriage to the late, great Carrie Fisher. At turns both nostalgic and hopeful, it runs the gamut of emotions we always seem to experience a little more profoundly on the road.

13.  ‘Take It Easy’ by the Eagles

The Eagles took flight in 1972 with their debut single: a quick but mellow paean to the romance of the road, where a world of troubles—romantic and otherwise—can be shucked at the mere sight of a girl (my lord!) in a flatbed Ford. Cowritten by frontman Glenn Frey and his friend Jackson Browne, the song’s rejection of worry and release into insouciant adventure are perfect for relieving tension on a drive. As the lyrics gently urge: ‘Don’t let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy.’

14.  ‘America’ by Simon and Garfunkel

Add this one to your bucket list: Everyone should be required (at least once) to listen to their restless side, hitchhike, board a bus and go to another city/state/country to find something better—as described in Simon and Garfunkel’s 1968 classic, which follows two young lovers on a Greyhound in search for America. Take your sweetie along for the ride, smoke cigarettes on the side of the road, chat with the weirdos you meet on your journey, and by all means, indulge in a few slices of all-American pie.

15.  ‘Route 66’ by Chuck Berry

This R&B standard, written in 1946 by Bobby Troup, has been covered by everyone from the Rolling Stones to John Mayer and Depeche Mode. We’re partial to Chuck Berry’s 1961 rendition, which matches the 2,400-mile pilgrimage on the L.A.–Chicago-connecting titular highway to a T. Who better than the father of rock & roll to accompany a trip past greasy-spoon diners, tiny towns frozen in time and striking Americana landscapes?

16.  ‘Home’ by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

First and foremost a love song, the L.A. troupe’s jingly-jangly 2010 smash single is also, obviously, about coming home – making it the perfect road trip song. Naturally, the feel-good tune should be played at the end of your voyage, when you’re speeding a bit because you just can’t wait to get home to your significant other/parents/puppy/comfy bed.

17.  ‘Going Up the Country’ by Canned Heat

Released in 1968 and adapted from a 1920s blues song, Canned Heat’s highest-charting single was the unofficial anthem of Woodstock—and even after all this time, it’s the perfect track to kick off a road trip, a steering-wheel-tapping, grin-inducing song that makes you immediately pine for sun-drenched fields: “I’m going where the water tastes like wine, we can jump in the water, stay drunk all the time.” Those dudes had their priorities straight…just so long as they had a designated driver.

18.  ‘I’ve Been Everywhere’ by Johnny Cash

Music has always had the power to educate. Billy Joel’s ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’ taught us more 20th-century American history than a year’s worth of school hisoty lessons. For a CliffsNotes anatomy lesson, we turned to Professor Sir Mix-a-Lot. And when it comes to geography, there is no better musical resource than this name-dropping country ditty, first released with North American locales in 1962 by Canadian crooner Hank Snow. In four verses, 91 places are rattled off in rapid-fire succession—destinations both big (Chicago and Nashville) and small (Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and Haverstraw, New York). This road trip song has been covered many times and adapted for different regions of the globe, but we’re partial to the Man in Black’s 1996 rendition, simply because his weathered, gravelly bass-baritone suggests a man who has indeed been everywhere.

19.  ‘Hit the Road Jack’ by Ray Charles

Fiendishly simple with its descending piano chords, ‘Hit the Road Jack’ is sung from the perspective of a philanderer being ejected by his lady. By all rights this 1961 R&B classic should win a prize for being impossible not to sing along to: ‘What you say?!’ screams soul hero Charles to his velvet-voiced Raelettes. Later he complains, ‘You can’t mean that,’ about as convincingly as a cat picking bird feathers from between its teeth. The track's most memorable use in a road trip appears in the 1989 comedy movie The Dream Team .

20.  ‘Holiday Road’ by Lindsey Buckingham

Hard to hear this seemingly happy little sock hop without thinking of the Griswold family station wagon zooming to Walley World. As its dark video helps to underline, the lyrics speak more of feeling trapped than free. The Fleetwood Mac man was an ace at hiding his boyish ache behind melodic smiles. Which is why this road trip song is such simple genius: It works the same whether you’re chained to a desk and longing for a vacation or finally on the highway, shooting to God knows where with no deadlines.

21.  ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ by Electric Light Orchestra

The sweet spot is 176 beats per minute. That’s a giddy run, the pace of your footsteps hitting the pavement as you jog home after a first kiss. Though we haven’t tested this, we theorise it is the precise cadence of fence posts whipping past your window as you motor down a highway just above the speed limit. ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ is 176 beats per minute, which is why, whenever it plays, you have the urge to run like a big dumb puppy dog to a boyfriend/girlfriend, or let the wind blow through your hair at 76mph, as you croon along to the vocoder like a robot. Warning: When ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ is used without such outlets, it can cause deep wanderlust.

22.  ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’ by the Proclaimers

If there’s one road trip song that can unite everyone in the car in the simple act of thumping whatever surface is near them in time with a ludicrously catchy tune, it’s this one—a hit in 1988 for Scottish twins the Proclaimers. Fun fact: The ‘havering’ referred to in the first verse (‘And if I haver, I know I’m gonna be the man who’s havering to you’) is Scots slang for babbling foolishly. So now you know.

23.  ‘Ride Like the Wind‘ by Christopher Cross

Take your EGOT and stuff it. Chris Cross has the transportation trifecta—mega-hits for the sea (‘Sailing’), sky (‘Arthur’s Theme’) and road (‘Ride Like the Wind’). People condescendingly pigeonhole the guy as yacht rock (the pink flamingo on his smash album doesn’t help), but he’s truly yacht-jet-and-rental-car rock. Despite its lily-white reputation, ‘Ride‘ is cool and dangerous. It’s possibly—no, probably—about drug smuggling. Racing away to Mexico with Michael McDonald as the devil on your shoulder. Hearing those percolating bongos, wind effects, electric piano and oily guitar licks, it could fit right on Daft Punk’s ‘Random Access Memories’ album . It remains DJ gold. Call it ‘Get Unlucky’.

24.  ‘Ramblin’ Man’ by the Allman Brothers Band

We may not have been born in the backseat of a Greyhound bus (thanks, mum!), but for whatever reason, the idea of being a ramblin’ man (or woman) is endlessly appealing. And when we play this 1973 hit—based on Hank Williams’s 1951 song of the same name—on the open road, that’s exactly who we are. At least until Monday.

25.  ‘On the Road Again’ by Willie Nelson

Nothing beats hitting the open road, where you can escape the stress of work, family, bills, city life and just be free, man. Just ask tireless road dog Willie Nelson. The Red Headed Stranger penned this 1980 country hit—the ultimate get-the-hell-out-of-town anthem—not in the back of a tour bus but rather, of all places, on a barf bag midflight.

26.  ‘Runnin’ Down a Dream’ by Tom Petty

Some would argue that we could have built this entire list solely out of Petty tunes—but we had to make a choice, and we picked this 1989 single from the song man’s first solo record, ‘Full Moon Fever’. Not only does it take place in a car, but the tune’s reference to Del Shannon’s ‘Runaway’ and killer guitar solo make it a perfect fit for blasting out of your speakers while cruising down the interstate in pursuit of the American dream, your future destination or simply that next roadside burger.

27.  ‘Let Me Ride’ by Dr. Dre

Dr. Dre’s ‘The Chronic’ album arrived on the heels of the 1992 South Central riots. Folks in Compton were looking to escape and could not—and not just because of the traffic on the 110 and 405. This was a cry for cruising with the bucket seats dropped back, slow rolling on a resting-heart-rate rhythm and those G-funk dog-whistle keyboards. ‘Swing down, sweet chariot, stop, let me ride,’ goes the chorus lifted from Parliament’s ‘Mothership Connection,’ itself based on a slave spiritual. But just because the song hides a deeper political meaning the way lowriders hide a subwoofer in the trunk, there’s no reason Dre can’t roll in style. Specifically, in a 1964 Chevy Impala shoed with Dayton rims (a.k.a. ‘Ds,’ as in ‘Throw some Ds on that bitch’).

28.  ‘Born to Be Wild’ by Steppenwolf

The riff, like the rev of a motorcycle throttle, has become so terribly commonplace, it’s hard to imagine what it must have been like to hear its ‘heavy-metal thunder’ with virgin ears during the opening credits of Easy Rider . Today, Steppenwolf’s monster hit is a movie-trailer cliché on par with ‘Bad to the Bone’ and ‘I Got You (I Feel Good).’ What was once-tough biker rock is now Viagra-ad fodder. Still, if you can wash out the soundtrack memories of Problem Child, Dr. Dolittle 2, Rugrats Go Wild, et al., the dirty little number still rips, along with a deep huff of exhaust fumes and jazz cigarettes.

29.  ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’ by Journey

A thousand terrible karaoke performances have somewhat dulled the lustre of this once-gleaming classic ’80s song , but once it comes on in the car, you’ll be in love with it all over again within seconds. Just don’t use it as a road map—there is no such place as South Detroit. Okay, there is, but it’s in Ontario, Canada, so you might need your passport. 

30.  ‘Interstate Love Song’ by Stone Temple Pilots

The underrated STP (hey, that’s a fuel additive) was never truly a grunge band. The ‘Core’ album was a trend-surfing foot in the door, the American equivalent to Blur’s baggy-riding ‘Leisure’. Really, the bands have more melodic ambitions. Scott Weiland, as his solo albums and pink fur coat proved, had far more Bowie in him than his peers. ‘Interstate Love Song’  was the lifting of the veil, when the Pilots announced, Hey, we actually listen to the Beatles , not the Melvins. It chugs along with drop-top bliss, even if the chorus is oddly about trains, not driving.

31.  ‘Radar Love’ by Golden Earring

Appropriately for a song about driving, this 1973 cut from Dutch rockers Golden Earring is one of the best road trip songs ever written. ‘The road has got me hypnotised, I’m speeding into a new sunrise!’ wails singer Barry Hay, as that bassline gets your head nodding and your foot instinctively pressing down on the gas. ‘Radar Love’ also has the best breakdown of any rock song ever. This is an indisputable scientific fact.

32.  ‘Life Is a Highway’ by Tom Cochrane

Okay. We know how heavy-handed these metaphors are. And how forced the rhymes are. We never said every song on this list was a masterpiece. But we dare you not to sing along with the chorus of this 1991 cheesefest— especially on a highway. Maybe no one ever listens to the song in its entirety (sorry Tom), but one or two ‘life is a highway’s are pretty much mandatory. Give in.

33.  ‘The Way’ by Fastball

Alt-rock band Fastball had a breakout 1998 hit with this fast-driving tale of a married pair that ditches its conventional home and family, in favour of a dream life on the highway with no destination. The feel-good, sing-along optimism of the chorus—‘They’ll never get hungry, they’ll never get old and grey’—has a dark undercurrent: Weeks after their disappearance, the bodies of the real-life Texas couple who inspired the song were discovered in an Arkansas ravine. But all of life’s roads hit a dead-end eventually: Better, maybe, at least to leave the driveway.

34.  ‘California’ by Phantom Planet

Contrary to popular belief, the hair-metal power ballad did not die by grunge’s bullet. The hair just got shorter and the trousers got looser. Case in point: this 2002 theme from The O.C. It is emo made only from the emotion of uncut nostalgia. It is basically Motley Crüe’s ‘Home Sweet Home’ for mollycoddled millennials, right down to the video compiled from sentimental tour footage. And it is oddly reminiscent of Al Jolson’s ‘California, Here I Come.’ That’s some feat, finding the common ground between Jolson and the Crüe. Man, remember when Ryan became a cage fighter after Marissa died?

35.  ‘Shut Up and Drive’ by Rihanna

This electro bop from 2007 isn’t a top-tier Rihanna tune, but it still kinda rips. Driven – pun definitely intended – by a crafty sample from New Order’s club classic ‘Blue Monday’, it’s an unashamedly fluffy new wave pastiche that’s as much about sex as hitting the open highway. Don’t even pretend you can resist it – especially when the chance of RiRi releasing new music any time soon seems to get slimmer with each passing year. 

36.  ‘Running on Empty’ by Jackson Browne

There’s a reason this song soundtracks the Forrest Gump  protagonist’s famous transcontinental jog: Few pop tunes capture the rush of earthbound travel—by foot, by car or, in Jackson Browne’s case, by tour bus—better than this autobiographical FM-radio staple. But what makes it a classic is the ambiguity in Browne’s message. ‘I don’t know where I’m running now; I’m just running on,’ he sings, perfectly summing up how the desire for escape can be its own kind of trap.

37.  ‘Two of Us’ by the Beatles

The Fab Four’s back catalogue is replete with songs about travelling around: ‘Drive My Car,’ ‘Day Tripper,’ ‘Ticket to Ride,’ ‘Yellow Submarine’—the list goes on and on like a long and winding road. No Beatles track, though, captures the feeling of setting off into uncharted territory with someone special better than ‘Two of Us,’ penned by Paul McCartney in 1969. There is debate as to whether McCartney’s partner in crime in this song is future wife Linda Eastman, as he claims, or John Lennon, which some of the nostalgia-infused lyrics would suggest. No matter—an impromptu road trip is a good time whether your passenger-seat companion is your new flame or your counterpart in the greatest songwriting tandem of all time.

38.  ‘Chicago’ by Sufjan Stevens

Some songs make your heart beat faster from the get-go, and 2005 road-trip song ‘Chicago’ is just such a gem, announcing its entrance in a whirlwind of strings and a rush of percussion. The backing cuts suddenly to Stevens’s voice, whispering that most universal human sentiment: ‘I fell in love again—all things go, all things go,’ and then later, another familiar feeling: ‘I made a lot of mistakes, I made a lot of mistakes.’ It’s this acknowledgement of our frailty, coupled with our irrepressible capacity for hope and excitement that gives  ‘Chicago’ its electrifying, driving charge. That and the fact it features in the ridiculously touching road movie Little Miss Sunshine .

39.  ‘Fade Into You’ by Mazzy Star

Night driving found a shimmering musical complement in this ethereal 1994 track from dream popsters Mazzy Star. In a rare bit of sonic magic, it seems that no matter how fast you’re driving, the low beats per minute on ‘Fade Into You’ always manage to sync up perfectly with the passing dividing lines visible from your car’s two headlights. And a night drive, preferably undertaken as you’re pining for an unrequited love, wouldn’t be complete without Hope Sandoval’s dusk, haunting vocals echoing throughout your ride. Two-lane highway bliss, by moonlight.

40.  ‘The Golden Age’ by Beck

This 2002 road trip song, off Beck’s desolate, heartbreaking ‘Sea Change’ , is one of the most perfect and profound illustrations of driving as a means of escape. It’s best played at night, in the desert if you’ve got one handy, when you feel like crap but have pretty much come to terms with it. And when, as Beck says, ‘You've gotta drive all night just to feel like you’re okay.’ Go forth, drive and wallow. Maybe you’ll feel better in the morning.

41.  ‘Scar Tissue’ by Red Hot Chili Peppers

The L.A.-bred Peppers clearly know a thing or two about hitting the highways, as evidenced by a song catalogue riddled with Cali-inspired, crank-up-the-dial tunes. For a journey out on the open road, we like this lead track off the band’s 1999 album, ‘Californication’, due to its lilting desert-by-twilight vibe. The song’s main attraction is John Frusciante’s wailing guitar solos, which achingly embody Anthony Kiedis’s lyrics about isolation and the twisted, drug-fuelled paths he’s traversed (‘With the birds I’ll share this lonely view’). Enter tumbleweed, stage right.

42.  ‘Every Day Is a Winding Road’ by Sheryl Crow

The little sister to Tom Cochrane’s ‘Life Is a Highway,’ Sheryl Crow’s 1996 hit unabashedly co-opts the use of automotive byways as metaphors for life’s ups and downs. (Billy ‘the world is a vampire’ Corgan apparently misread the memo.) The ‘wacky’ characters in Crow’s songs are often a bit too precious for our liking—in this case, a vending-machine repairman with a daughter he calls ‘Easter’ (what?)—but the chorus always gets us fired up for some hairpin turns, even when we’re cruising down a seemingly endless straightaway. This road trip song works perfectly when your destination is San Francisco’s iconic Lombard Street, whose residents probably have this tune swirling in their heads 24/7.

43.  ‘Jack & Diane’ by John Cougar Mellencamp

Inevitably, your road trip is going to hit some lulls: You’re fighting off the yawns, your passengers have passed out, and it's 57 miles to the next pit stop. When this happens, there’s one sure-fire way to get your journey back on course: Unleash the Cougar. Indiana’s favourite son specialiaes in songs about the heartland, and his crowning jewel is this 1982 chart topper about two high-school sweethearts and the twists and turns of their American Dream. Despite the jaunty beat and an epic drum breakdown rivaling the one in Phil Collins’s ‘In the Air Tonight,’ the tale is cautionary, urging us to savour those thrilling, carefree teenage years. Oh, to be young, in love and suckin’ on chilli dogs outside the Tastee Freez.…

44.  ‘King of the Road’ by Roger Miller

Did our dads play this 1964 ditty on long car rides when we were little? You betcha. Do we think they contemplated the potential consequences of making penniless vagabonds sound super cool? Doubtful. Regardless, it’s a timeless everyman’s anthem, and darn if it isn’t catchy. We really like listening to it in our van down by the river.

45.  ‘Green Onions’ by Booker T. & the M.G.’s

This R&B instrumental, recorded in 1962, is the perfect soundtrack for an unhurried drive, when you’re sick of singing along and ready to just cruise. It’s repetitive, much like the open road, but with a steady beat and some soulful Hammond organ to keep things interesting. Widely considered to be one of the greatest songs of all time, it’s received accolades from Rolling Stone , Acclaimed Music, the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Library of Congress. If AAA had a greatest songs list, we’re sure ‘Green Onions’ would be on that, too.

46.  ‘Mustang Sally’ by Wilson Pickett

You can probably blame censorship for our automobile sex fetishes. Early rock & rollers couldn’t sing about sex, so they sang about their cars…with not-so-subtle undertones. ‘Mustang Sally,’ the grandmother of ‘Little Red Corvette’ only wants to ‘ride around,’ and Pickett howls with his thumb out, looking to hitch. Don’t let this song’s karaoke staple status let you forget what it’s really about. 

47.  ‘Going Back to Cali’ by LL Cool J

From Al Jolson to Led Zeppelin and Phantom Planet, dozens of artists have tapped into the westward dream of the Golden State. Heck, the tradition stretches back to Gold Rush ditties of the mid 19th century, Smithsonian Folkways fodder like ‘Life in California.’ But only one man made the trip wrapped in precious metals, not seeking them. Cool J cruises to the coast, as he proclaims in verse, in a Corvette with a Laurents chrome chain steering wheel, Dayton wire rims and a gold-leaf convertible top. Rick Rubin’s stark 808 beats thunder under the extremely relaxed rhymes of Mr. Ladies Love. ‘I’m going back to Cali,’ he nearly whispers before shrugging it off. ‘Hmm, I don't think so’ He might go, he might not. With his riches, he is a walking California. That’s cool. Cool enough to pull off one of the few sax solos in hip-hop history.

48.  ‘The Distance’ by Cake

With the band’s signature horns and a self-serious melody that practically requires head-bobbing and Speed Racer–esque intensity (you may even want to invest in racing gloves), this single off of 1996’s ‘Fashion Nugget’ album is irresistible. The album is filled with more on-the-nose driving songs than this one (‘Race Car Ya-Yas,’ ‘Stickshifts and Safetybelts’), but this is the money single—and got the album platinum status. Throw it on repeat and hit the open road. Just take an occasional break for track No. 7, the band’s excellent cover of Gloria Gaynor’s ‘I Will Survive.’

49.  ‘Roadrunner’ by the Modern Lovers

Talk about a brilliant juxtaposition: Jonathan Richman’s 1972 cut, written when he was 19, beautifully contrasts the Velvet Underground’s bare-bones, dirty-as-hell chugalug sound with a subject matter so suburban that Richman’s heroes Lou Reed & Co. wouldn’t dare touch it: The thrill of being young, driving in a car and blasting the radio. The song’s repetitive two-chord propulsion is a perfect late-night road-trip pick-me-up. And there’s a bangin’ cover by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts to check out, too.

50.  ‘Have Love, Will Travel’ by the Sonics

At some stage in your life—at any point between getting your driver’s licence and getting married, really—you’ll drive from ‘Maine to Mexico’ for a piece of ass, as Gerry Roslie does in this proto-punk classic. The high-tension twang of the guitar sounds like the strings are about to snap, the perfect sonic emulation of sexual frustration. A recent ad for Mexican beer claims you need an ‘encyclopedic knowledge of garage rock’ to pull up this song, as if from some lost, dusty volume. Nah, this is Rock & Roll 101.

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The Meaning Behind The Song: Trip Around The Sun by Jimmy Buffett and Martina McBride

“Taking a Soulful Trip Around the Sun: Understanding the Meaning Behind Jimmy Buffett and Martina McBride’s Iconic Song”

Table of Contents

Introduction

There are certain songs that touch our hearts and souls and leave a powerful impact on us. One such song is the hit single “Trip Around the Sun” by Jimmy Buffett and Martina McBride. This soulful and uplifting song is all about appreciating the moments we have, cherishing the people in our lives, and experiencing life to the fullest.

In this article, we will explore the meaning behind the song “Trip Around the Sun” and how it inspires listeners to live life to the fullest. We will examine the lyrics, the music, and the messages embedded in the song.

The Lyrics of the Song

The lyrics of “Trip Around the Sun” tell a story of a person who is reflecting on their life and the moments that matter. The individual notes that “we only go around once” and encourages listeners to live life to the fullest, embracing every moment as if it was their last.

The chorus of the song is particularly powerful, with the lyrics “We’re on a trip around the sun, and every year it’s a new begun. You don’t got to live a life of regret, ’cause you can’t take it with you when you’re gone.”

The message here is clear; life is short, and we should make the most of every opportunity we have. We should cherish every experience, every relationship, and every moment as if it were our last.

The Music of the Song

The music of “Trip Around the Sun” is catchy and upbeat, featuring Jimmy Buffett’s signature tropical style and Martina McBride’s beautiful vocals. The song builds on a simple yet effective melody that is both memorable and easy to sing along to.

The use of instruments such as the steel drums and the bongos adds to the tropical feel of the song, which is a hallmark of Jimmy Buffett’s music.

The Message of the Song

The message of “Trip Around the Sun” is all about seizing the moment and living life to the fullest. It encourages us to make the most of our time on earth, cherishing the relationships we have and experiencing new things.

The song is particularly poignant at a time when many people are feeling overwhelmed and anxious. It reminds us that life is fleeting and that we should appreciate the moments we have.

The Impact of the Song

“Trip Around the Sun” has become a go-to song for many people when they need a pick-me-up or a reminder to appreciate the moments in life. It has been featured in numerous movies and TV shows, and is a fan favorite at Jimmy Buffett’s concerts.

The song’s message has resonated with people all over the world, inspiring them to live life to the fullest and cherish the moments they have with the people they love.

“Trip Around the Sun” is an iconic song that has touched the hearts of millions of people around the world. Its message of living life to the fullest and cherishing the moments we have is more important now than ever before.

As we journey through life, we should remember the lyrics of this powerful song and make the most of every experience. We should embrace the people we love, cherish the memories we make, and live life with no regrets.

So let’s take a soulful trip around the sun, embracing every moment and every opportunity that comes our way. After all, we only go around once.

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Remember When: Garth Brooks Flew Over the Audience at Texas Stadium in 1993 and Changed Country Music Performances Forever

Tina Benitez-Eves

Updated: 

There was a time when arenas were more for rock and roll and not country music. In the early to mid-1990s, artists like Hank Williams Jr. , Charlie Daniels, Alan Jackson , Alabama, Clint Black , George Strait, and Reba McEntire started moving fans from the theaters to the much bigger stages. By the early ’90s, Garth Brooks also took things up a notch, setting the bar—and the entire stage—with more theatrical live productions.

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The wireless mic.

After Brooks had his breakthrough with his eponymous debut and No. 1 hits “If Tomorrow Never Comes” and “ The Dance ,” he went on his first major tour supporting Kenny Rogers . By the time his second album No Fences came out in 1990, Brooks was a No. 1 country artist. The album remained on the top of the Billboard Top Country Albums chart for 23 weeks and launched what would become his signature anthem, “ Friends in Low Places ,” which also topped the chart along with “The Thunder Rolls,” “Unanswered Prayers, and “Two of a Kind, Workin’ on a Full House.”  Brooks was a bonafide country superstar and he had the stage presence to match it. On tour, Brooks started switching out the regular standing microphone for a wireless headset mic so he could walk and run around the stage while performing and connect better with the audience. His theatrics added more energy to the typical stand-and-deliver performances by country artists of yesteryear, and on October 6, 1990, Brooks became a member of the Grand Ole Opry .

A Trifecta of Albums and Texas Stadium

Between 1991 and 1992, Brooks released a trio of hit albums Ropin’ the Wind ,  The Chase , and  Beyond the Season , and moved up to even bigger stadiums and productions. When Brooks embarked on his 1993 world tour, he made his way to the UK for the first time, where he played at Wembley Stadium in London, making him the first country artist in history to play at the venue. He also made his way throughout Europe, South America, New Zealand, and Australia. That year, Brooks also filmed a special for NBC, This is Garth Brooks, Too! —a follow-up to the 1992 broadcast This is Garth Brooks —featuring live footage from his concert at Texas Stadium on June 12, 1993. The show sold out 65,000 tickets in 92 minutes and broke Paul McCartney’s previous record at the venue.

[ RELATED: Garth Brooks Channeled His Sex-Addicted Rock Alter-Ego Chris Gaines]

Throughout the 13-song set, Brooks moseyed around the stage in his usual manner playing through “The River,” “The Thunder Rolls,” “Standing Outside the Fire,” “Friends in Low Places,” “Shameless,” and more. For the finale, Brooks had something special in store. During the final song, “Ain’t Goin’ Down (‘Til the Sun Comes Up),” another No. 1 from his ’93 album In Pieces , Brooks was hoisted in the air and glided above the audience at Texas Stadium. The moment was unlike anything anyone ever saw at a concert, much less a country music show, and made other artists step up their stage game during the ’90s and through the present.

Photo: Trevor George

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• Hamilton - Satisfied Lyrics
• Ghost the Musical - With You Lyrics
• Hamilton - The Schuyler Sisters Lyrics
• Hamilton - Aaron Burr, Sir Lyrics

15 Must Try Legendary Italian Pizzas That Will Make Your Trip to Italy Memorable