Ranking Every Eric Church Song (Part Two)
And we’re back. Let’s take a look at the top 35 songs Eric Church has released. Be warned. There is one song’s placement which will be shocking to the majority of readers. I already know the one. I’ll be on Twitter waiting for the responses. It’s a great song; I just happen to think there are a few better. Enjoy!
35.) “Give Me Back My Hometown”
The Outsiders
The first spin of The Outsiders in its entirety had listeners knowing why “Give Me Back My Hometown” was the second single off the record. A radio-ready, sing-along chorus. But still unique enough to Church as an artist that it stood out.
34.) “Some Of It”
Desperate Man
One of the great qualities of Eric Church’s modern artistry is his ability to talk about his views without sounding preachy. “Some Of It” gives the listener simple life lessons from Church that come direct from experience. And there’s a nice, chill acoustic arrangment.
33.) “Lotta Boot Left to Fill”
Carolina
“Lotta Boot Left to Fill” was one of the early signs that Church wasn’t going to play by the rules. As far as Church is concerned, Hank did it how own way, and so did Waylon. And above all else, Church in his Carolina era was fed up with, “Get ups, gimics/one hit wonders who don’t stick. Pretty boys acting tough/boy bands, give it up.”
32.) “Devil, Devil (Prelude: Princess of Darkness)”
The Outsiders
What makes “ Devil, Devil” such a standout part of Eric Church’s discography is the spoken word poem at the beginning of the song. The poem was recorded by Church in the Opryland parking lot directly into his phone. The version heard on record is the original that Church sent to producer Jay Joyce that night. The poem rails against the demons of Nashville (and also offers a glimmer of hope on how to make it on Music Row). The song itself is a bender. Hard-rocking and harsh. But oh, so fun.
31.) “The Outsiders”
The Outsiders
The first single off Church’s first post-Chief album signaled that he wasn’t simply going to remake his previous record. The contrast between the Waylon, outlaw-esque guitar that kicks the song off and the bombastic, arena-esque chorus told country radio and his fans that everyone should buckle up and prepare for something completely different.
30.) “How ‘Bout You”
Sinners Like Me
“How ‘Bout You” is classic Eric Church. Plenty of strong country with a hint of the future heartland rock direction that his career would take.
29.) “The Snake”
Desperate Man
Protest/message songs are easy to write, let’s be honest. It’s simple to write things that you or I may disagree with or find antithetical to our own view. And yet protest and message songs are incredibly hard to perfect. The key is writing in a manner that isn’t condescending or derogative; after all, the goal is to convince people of a certain argument, not turn them off entirely. “The Snake” succeeds because Church writes from a specific, unique point of view as he rails against both sides of the political spectrum.
28.) “Round Here Buzz”
Mr. Misunderstood
“Round Here Buzz” features some of the simplest writing a listener will find in an Eric Church song. With lines like, “I’m sure there’s higher highs, where the high risers rise,” and “No, Scotty’s ain’t got no vibe, got no gas in his neon light/But he’s got two for one ’til two tonight,” Church successfuly plays the part of the yearning, lonely narrator. But it’s Haggard-esque. Written in a simple way in which all listeners can relate. And the production is brilliant.
27.) “Faster Than My Angels Can Fly”
Caldwell County EP
One of the more vintage cuts in Church’s catalog. There’s an element of smartly-done, unfiltered rockabilly found in “Faster Than My Angels Can Fly” that Church hasn’t really tried to return to since.
26.) “Holdin’ My Own”
Mr. Misunderstood
“Holdin’ My Own” finds Church content and happy with his life and career while admitting he’s still human by sometimes missing the “smoke and neon.” Yet it’s his wife and kids that keep him centered.
25.) “Springsteen”
Chief
“Springsteen” is the biggest song of Eric Church’s career. It has the widest appeal and will get everyone from casual pop country radio listeners to die-hard Church fans singing along. The song even grabbed the attention of the Boss himself, as he sent a hand-written letter to Church appreciating his artistry and song. Nostalgic without being sappy. But a little smoother than what most hardcore fans had come to expect from Church. Which is perhaps why it lands a little lower here than some readers may have expected. As a side note, the full magic of “Springsteen” is best witnessed in a live setting.
24.) “Drink In My Hand”
Chief
“Drink In My Hand” is the antithesis of “Springsteen.” Raw, rowdy, in-your-face, Stones-esque country rock. “Drink In My Hand” is all about being in the moment. The guitar riff drives the song at a furious pace and the lyrics provide a perfect weekend anthem.
23.) “Talladega”
The Outsiders
“Talladega” is all about living in the moment. Unlike most country singles at the time, “Talladega” didn’t promise the good times would never end. Rather, Church sung, “Most days in life don’t stand out/But life’s about those days thay will.”
22.) “Can’t Take It With You”
Sinners Like Me
One of the best lost-love songs Eric Church has recorded. Featuring fiddle (something that sounds so out-of-place on an Eric Church record now- not in a bad way, mind), dobro, and a bit of mandolin, “Can’t Take It With You” finds Church at his most forlorn. The opening line sets the scene. “Never realized how much she brought to the table/’Til I went to set my cup of coffee where the table used to be…”
21.) “Desperate Man”
Desperate Man
“Desperate Man” is a jam and a half. With a heavy Rolling Stones influence and his own brand of country rock, Eric Church applied all that he was going through in his own life to a Ray Wylie Hubbard co-write that signaled yet another new musical direction to his career.
20.) “Hungover and Hard Up”
Chief
When he wants, Eric Church can write and record traditional country music with the best of ’em. “Hungover and Hard Up” is an underrated addition to Church’s discography, but it’s an essential track to understand the entire scope of Church’s career.
19.) “Jukebox and A Bar”
Desperate Man
“Jukebox and A Bar” finds Church channeling his inner Merle Haggard. It’s not a lonesome track. But it’s real and unfiltered and allows the listener to picture the narrator in the moment.
18.) “The Hard Way”
Sinners Like Me
What was that I said earlier about Church’s ability to record traditional-minded country music? “The Hard Way” is straight-forward neo-traditional country in the vein of an Alan Jackson or Randy Travis. Church loves traditional country music; he’s just chosen a different direction and made it his own instead of imitating.
17.) “Carolina”
Carolina
A beautiful ballad and ode to Eric Church’s home state. “Carolina” is a live favorite and fans will often hear Church replace the state of Carolina with whatever city Church is playing.
16.) “Over When It’s Over”
Chief
A fitting end to Chief. Full of acceptance, regret, and heartache. “Over When It’s Over” is a song fitting that belongs on any list of Church’s best album cuts.
15.) “Knives of New Orleans”
Mr. Misunderstood
“Knives of New Orleans” is a fantastic story song. It wouldn’t sound out of place on something like Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska or Steve Earle’s Copperhead Road. We’re not quite sure of what the narrator is on the run from; we just know he’s stuck in the Crescent City with nowhere to turn and not a place to escape to.
14.) “Mr. Misunderstood”
Mr. Misunderstood
“Mr. Misunderstood” laid out the foundation of Eric Church’s career. The chocies he made. The heroes he looked toward. The roots of the tree that is Church’s career. The change in pace of the music makes “Mr. Misundersood” memorable to the ears, and the lyrics make it memorable to the heart.
13.) “Hippie Radio”
Desperate Man
Church is just so successful at doing nostalgia without sounding cheap or corny. “Hippie Radio” is the best in a long line of songs that establish Church as an artist willing to grow with his music and look back upon the significant events of his life in a relatable, subdued fashion.
12.) “Two Pink Lines”
Sinners Like Me
It still blows my mind that “Two Pink Lines” was the second single EVER that Eric Church released. It was nothing like the syrupy, soccer mom stuff that saturated country radio in the mid 2000s. One of the coolest things about the song is the way it evolved in a live setting. When it was released, “Two Pink Lines” was an unashamed alternative country rocker. When he, however, played it on the Holdin’ My Own Tour, Church slowed it down to a heartland rock ballad reminiscent of Springsteen or Mellancamp.
11.) “Three Year Old”
Mr. Misunderstood
Eric Church has sneakily developed a modern signature guitar tone when playing slow, quiet arrangments. “Three Year Old,” like “Some Of It,” doles out life lessons and relaxing words of advice. This time, the song finds Church taking wisdom from his three year old kid.
10.) “Pledge Allegiance to the Hag”
Sinners Like Me
One for those select few who have been there from the beginning. “They say country’s fading/But we’re still waving that flag around here.”
9.) “Drowning Man”
Desperate Man
“Drowning Man” is a realistic, clear-eyed look at the world as it stands in the 21st Century. Factory workers and farmers tossed aside. Their work rendered meaningless. But at the end of the day, country music, a shot of whiskey, and his woman by his side is what cures Church.
8.) “Mistress Named Music”
Mr. Misunderstood
The live version of “Mistressed Named Music” has turned the song into another fantastic beast entirely. But we can’t forget the original record. Rhythmic piano kicks the song off before picking up the pace just a little bit with some strings and electric guiatar. More than any other song, “Mistress Named Music” defined the new defining sound Church was searching for after The Outsiders. “A guitar full of freedom and a head full of lines…” The chorus just begs to be shouted.
7.) “Those I’ve Loved”
Carolina
“Those I’ve Loved” pays tribute to all the important figures and characters in Eric Church’s life that meant something and left a mark. The concept is simple, but the song is so well done from the production to the tight writing; not a word is wasted.
6.) “Dark Side”
The Outsiders
Eric Church draws from a huge well of influences. “Dark Side” pulls from his alternative country side. The story is vivid, uncut, and poignant. And it’s something we all feel. We’ve all got a dark side. And we all have to grow up at some point and realize there are people we can’t afford to hurt. People we’ll protect at all costs.
5.) “Where She Told Me To Go”
Carolina
The most underrated song in Eric Church’s catalog. There isn’t a song that deserves more love than it presently gets. The broken-hearted, lonesome songs kicks off with, “Muddy water coming out of the sink in there, dirty sheets up on the bed/I can’t get no picture on the TV screen, I can’t stand the one’s up in my head.” Lines George Jones himself could have recorded at rock bottom in the 70s. A whiskey-drenched vocal from Church and dark, neo-traditional production with a hint of electric. Vintage.
4.) “A Man Who Was Gonna Die Young”
The Outsiders
If you only *really* discoverd Eric Church around Mr. Misunderstood or Desperate Man, a lot of the songs he sung prior may not make a lot of sense. But there was a time when he was rowdy. Didn’t play by any rules (even before he earned the freedom to blaze his own trail). Pissed off everyone on Music Row. And was willing to give it all up to protect his artistic integrity. And that’s why “A Man Who Was Gonna Die Young” is such an endearing, crucial part of understanding who Church is.
3.) “Sinners Like Me”
Sinners Like Me
Music fans and historians can trace a direct line from “Sinners Like Me” to Steve Earle’s Guitar Town and then back to Waylon’s Dreaming My Dreams. It’s modern outlaw country rock. No B.S. Just a man, his guitar, and his band making poignant, relatable country music. This is the Eric Church ethos.
2.) “Lightning”
Sinners Like Me
“Lightning” defined the idea that Eric Church was a different kind of artist. A commercial, mainstream country guy releasing a song about a man on death row off his debut album? Yeah, Eric Church did it. The production is eerie and spooky, but the story is as real and heart-wrenching as a songwriter can get.
1.) “These Boots”
Sinners Like Me
If you’ve been a fan from the beginning, well, there’s really no other choice here for the greatest Eric Church song. “These Boots” played live is a religious experience. Boots held high, words sung at the top of the lungs. It’s lost its luster to some lately as newer fans come aboard the Church train and don’t understand or realize what “These Boots” truly means. But for the fans who were there when Sinners Like Me was released, yeah, it means everything.
And there we have it. Every Eric Church song ever released has been ranked. Like I said, I’ll be over there on Twitter waiting to hear readers’ thoughts. I’m willing to understand arguments for every song except “These Boots” at number one. What can I say? I’ve been there from the beginning.
