20 Songs About Giving Thanks

Thankfulness in country music can often be sarcastic, as in “Thanks A Lot,” or humorous, like “Thank God and Greyhound.” But with this month’s playlist we’re going to be serious, and check out some songs on which artists count their various blessings.

• 20. “Thank God For The Road” – The Flatlanders
  “When you’re trying to save your own soul/Thank God for the road.” Spoken like a group of true road warriors.
• 19. “Thank You For A Life” – Kris Kristofferson
  After the life he’s led, Kristofferson is probably thankful just to be alive at all.
• 18. “Lucky Stars” – JP McDermott & Western Bop
  DC’s red-hot rockabilly man JP McDermott tackles this Buddy Holly-meets-The-Mavericks song written by Western Bop guitarist Bob Newscaster.
• 17. “Lucky” – Pat Green
  Sure, having millions of dollars and a supermodel on your arm might be nice, but if you’ve got a job, car, family, and friends, Green says you’ve got it made.
• 16. “Happy To Be Here” – Todd Snider
  “I can’t pray for some guy to fall/I say let all the people do what people do/I’m just happy to be here at all.” Damn hippies and their positive thinking.
• 15. “Thanks” – Chatham County Line
  This song is from the North Carolina group’s most recent album IV. Frontman Dave Wilson sings “thanks for making me crazy.” But, you know, in the good way. Some more good advice from the boys of CCL: “you can’t thank somebody with the words you carve on their headstone.”
• 14. “Damn Good Day” – Grant Langston
  You know what I’m thankful for? The alt-country album this song is on, Stand Up Man is available for free dollars on Langston’s website. Damn good day, indeed.
• 13. “Everything Is Fine” – Josh Turner
  The title track from his third album is all about counting one’s blessings: a steady job, a happy home, and a good dog. What else could a person ask for?
• 12. “But For The Grace of God” – Keith Urban
  This song was co-written by Jane Wiedlin and Charlotte Caffey; it was also their first #1. Who isn’t thankful for the infectious sounds of The Go-Go’s?
• 11. “Thank You World” – The Statler Brothers
  They may never be important historical figures like Stonewall Jackson; however, they are grateful to be sharing a stage with one another and singing all about the world’s praises and faults. This peppy song, written by bandmembers Don Reid and the late Lew DeWitt, features those trademark Statler harmonies—who can resist ‘em.
• 10. “Blessed” – Martina McBride
  Going from selling Garth Brooks concert t-shirts to having a platoon of your own merch minions? Sounds pretty blessed to me. Bonus blessing: there are no kids dressed as bags of leaves in this song. Also, the music video is pretty dang sweet.
• 9. “These Are The Good Old Days” – Roy Rogers
  No misty-colored memories for Roy Rogers: he much prefers the present. And who wouldn’t if you had a wife like Dale Evans and a horse like Trigger? Not to mention a chain of fast food restaurants that bears your name.
• 8. “I’ll Thank You All My Life” – Jean Shepard
  Love conquers a troubled past here as Jean Shepard thanks her fella for “overlooking what [she's] been” and “looking right into [her] heart.”

• 7. “Thanking The Good Lord” – Merle Haggard
  The Hag thanks the Lord for you in this honkytonker, and while he’s got the almighty on the line, also asks for the ability to prosper and be fair.

• 6. “Thank God For Believers” – Mark Chesnutt
  Thank the deity of your choice for traditionalist Mark Chesnutt. If you wanted to make some sort of ritual sacrifice in hopes of getting him back on country radio, that might be okay, too. This song, one of his best, was also one of his most successful, going all the way to #2.
• 5. “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” – John Denver
  Don’t even pretend you don’t know all the words. If you weren’t alive when this song came out in the mid ’70s, you probably saw Pauly Shore sing it in cinematic masterpiece Son in Law.
• 4. “Unanswered Prayers” – Garth Brooks
  If God answered all prayers, 20 years ago I’d have married a New Kid on the Block. Maybe Garth (and co-writers Pat Alger and Larry Bastian) knew what they were talking about on this 1990 #1.
• 3. “I’m Satisfied With You” – Hank Williams
  Ol’ Hank loves you just the way you are. Sure, he might “do better if [he] reached for a star,” but you’re all right. You kids and your newfangled music might want to check out fiddlin’ Casey Driessen’s cover.
• 2. “It’s a Great Day To be Alive” – Darrell Scott
  Scott wrote the song, but Travis Tritt’s version went to #2 in 2000. Rice, soup, the possibility of growing a Fu Manchu…why can’t every day be just that good?
• 1. “A Satisfied Mind” – Porter Wagoner
  Dozens have covered this, but Wagoner’s 1955 version topped the charts. According to the lyrics of this classic, maybe one rich man in ten has a satisfied mind. The other nine just have to settle for wiping away the tears with a handful of Ben Franklins. Other excellent versions come from Jean Shepard and Vince Gill.