I listen to a fairly wide variety of music on my F150’s FM radio — mostly country (old and new) plus a few classic rock stations. And I’m a channel changer; if I can’t sing along as I drive, then I’m immediately scrolling to find something better.
Like you, I’m sure there are some songs that make you smile and crank the volume. The 16 listed below (alphabetical order) do that for me. And why the strange number — 16? No other reason than I started making a top 10 list, and it continued to grow and ultimately I couldn’t cut any of them.
Click on the text links if you want to listen to the specific song on YouTube; almost all of the links take you to the artist’s official videos. I’ve also included a sampling of the hunting or fishing lyrics (in italic type) from each song that I like best. Enjoy!
“A Country Boy Can Survive” — Hank Williams, Jr.
The lyrics shown below aren’t hunting or fishing related; those can be found elsewhere in this famous song. But I had to highlight them because they are my absolute favorite lyrics ever to appear in any song.
But he was killed by a man with a switchblade knife
For 43 dollars my friend lost his life
I'd love to spit some Beech-Nut in that dude's eyes
And shoot him with my old .45
'Cause a country boy can survive
"All Summer Long” – Kid Rock
I can’t think of another song I’ve ever heard that mentions walleye fishing. And I can’t help but giggle remembering 14-ish years ago when my sons, ages 7 and 9 at the time, were singing at the top of their voices, “smokin’ funny things . . .” along with me in our pickup on our way to the lake.
Catching walleye from the dock
Watching the waves roll off the rocks
She’ll forever hold a spot inside my soul
“Bottomland” — Hardy
How can you not love a song that is literally named after the most famous camo pattern — Bottomland — from Mossy Oak?
I don't know if Heaven's got big tall pines
Or whitetail bucks with 10-inch tines
But if I get there and it looks like home
Them woods gon' be the first place I go
So bury me in Bottomland
With my grandpa's rifle in my hand
Lord just take me as I am
And bury me in Bottomland
“Buy Me a Boat” — Chris Janson
Those well-known sayings “money can’t buy happiness” and “the best things in life are free” are certainly true, but there’s also no denying that owning a boat is awesome!
I ain't rich, but I damn sure wanna be
Workin' like a dog all day ain't workin' for me
I wish I had a rich uncle that'd kick the bucket
And I was sittin' on a pile like Warren Buffett
I know everybody says money can't buy happiness
But it could buy me a boat
It could buy me a truck to pull it
It could buy me a YETI 110 iced down with some Silver Bullets
Yeah, and I know what they say, money can't buy everything
Well, maybe so
But it could buy me a boat
“Dirt Cheap” — Cody Johnson
My yellow Lab, Togo — a great companion and gun dog — lived 15 years and I miss her everyday. Maybe that’s why I had to include “Dirt Cheap.”
And over there, under that white oak tree
Beneath the cross is where my best buddy's buried
Lasted 13 huntin' season runnin' strong
Keep your money 'cause a man can't leave his dog
“Don’t Take the Girl” — Tim McGraw
In my opinion, this is one of the finest written country songs of all time. Period.
Johnny's daddy was takin' him fishin'
When he was eight years old
A little girl came through the front gate
Holdin' a fishin' pole
His dad looked down and smiled
Said, "We can't leave her behind
Son, I know you don't want her to go
But someday you'll change your mind"
And Johnny said
Take Jimmy Johnson, take Tommy Thompson
Take my best friend, Bo
Take anybody that you want as
Long as she don't go
Take any boy in the world
Daddy, please, don't take the girl
“Favorite Country Song” — Hardy
When I hear songs like this one, I often wonder, “What percentage of listeners have a clue what 20-pound Stren is? Or for that matter, a flathead? FYI: I used to spool up my reels with Sten mono forever ago when Roland Martin was winning Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles, but I’m a Trilene guy now, for flatheads and just about all other species.
A north wind blowin' through a patch of pines
Whip-poor-wills singin' 'bout summertime
Raindrops drummin' on rusted tin
Flathead draggin' out 20 pound Stren
“Fishing In The Dark” – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Yeah, this song is more about young love than fishing, but there’s no way I could leave it off my list.
You and me go fishin' in the dark
Lyin' on our backs and countin' the stars
Where the cool grass grows
Down by the river in the full moonlight
We'll be fallin' in love in the middle of the night
Just movin' slow
Stayin' the whole night through
It feels so good to be with you
And it don't matter if we sit forever
And the fish don't bite
Jump in the river and cool ourselves
From the heat of the night, baby get ready
“Huntin’ By Yourself” — Luke Combs
With one son out of college and getting started on his adult life, and his younger brother soon to follow, I’m living these “Huntin’ By Yourself” lyrics. I understand that it’s life, but it doesn’t make it any easier to accept.
They'll make you cuss and wear your patience thin
But next thing you know, they're all grown up, and then
You're huntin' by yourself again
“I’m Gonna Miss Her” — Brad Paisley
Not only is this one of my favorite country songs of all time, but this video is probably the best one on my list. I’ve watched it dozens and dozens of times through the years and still love it.
FYI: That’s Paisley’s wife, actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, starring in this 2002 music video. Paisley invited her to be in the video after seeing her in the movie “Father of the Bride,” and the two began dating shortly after the video. They married in 2003.
Well, I love her
But I love to fish
I spend all day out on this lake
And hell is all I catch
But today she met me at the door
Said I would have to choose
If I hit that fishin’ hole today
She'd be packin’ all her things
And she'd be gone by noon.
Chorus:
Well, I'm gonna miss her
When I get home
But right now I'm on this lakeshore
And I'm sittin' in the sun
I'm sure it'll hit me
When I walk through that door tonight
Yeah, I'm gonna miss her
Oh, lookie there, I've got a bite!
“I’m Still a Guy” — Brad Paisley
True story: I dated a vegetarian for five years back in my early 20s. We got along great but there’s no doubt we saw the world through different eyes.
When you see a deer, you see Bambi
And I see antlers up on the wall
When you see a lake, you think picnics
And I see a largemouth up under that log
“Love Your Love the Most” — Eric Church
Eric Church’s distinctive voice, plus callouts for smallmouth bass, NASCAR and 8-point bucks? Yeah, this one was an easy pick. And a great video, too.
Yeah, I love scuffed up cowboy boots
And broken tore up jeans
My four-wheel drive, 8-point bucks
And rocky road ice cream
“Rednecker” — Hardy
If you don’t like this song, then we can’t be friends. And for the dozen or so people involved in making this must-see video, you KNOW that they’ll be telling their friends and family about “filming day” for decades. Epic fun!
My town's smaller than your town
And I got a bigger buck and bass on my wall
Got a little more kick in my drawl
Y'all I got little more spit in my chaw
My truck's louder than your truck
And my collar's a little more blue
You might think that you're redneck
But I'm rednecker than you
Yes I am
“Skoal, Chevy and Browning" — Morgan Wallen
Confession: I was a little late to the Morgan Wallen party, but I’m happy to have found him. I like a few of his other top songs better than this one (which is fairly new), but those don’t have specific hunting or fishing lyrics. I like the Browning mention; God willing I’ll join my dad (88) in the Wisconsin woods again this fall and he’ll be carrying his early 1960’s Belgium-made Browning Safari bolt-action .30-06. Someday that rifle will be in my gun cabinet; I hope not soon. FYI: Click here to watch Wallen join the team from Drury Outdoors on a rainy-day Missouri turkey hunt.
He was old-school as huntin' in a flannel
Took me with him slap, middle of the rut
I was tryin' to get me one for the mantle
But I left with somethin' better in the truck
“Stay Country or Die Tryin'" — Blake Shelton
Similar to what I wrote about “Favorite Country Song” by Hardy: What percentage of listeners to this Shelton song know what “Boone and Crockett stud” means? Sure, deer hunters understand but the reference must be lost on millions of people.
From the red, white, and blue flyin' high at the farm
To the Boone and Crockett stud on the wall in the barn
Where the magnolias bloom, there's a Lab on the lawn
Where your buddy and your boat both got the name John
“The Bird Hunters” — The Turnpike Troubadours
My oldest son first played The Turnpike Troubadours for me in my pickup through the playlist on his phone. I’d have to research why I never hear them on any of my truck’s FM radio stations. Whatever the case, I wish their music was on my radio far more often because it’s outstanding!
Well, the covey took wing, shotguns a-singin'
A pointing dog down in the old logging road
Danny got three and looked back a-grinning
I fumbled and I tried to reload
