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Old Country Music Songs
On The Acoustic
Welcome to my old country music songs page where you'll find info and lessons covering many artists including Marty Robbins, Ricks Skaggs, Johnny Horton, Bobby Bare and many others.
Help yourself to the free pdf chord sheets, view some full demos and sample demos. If you require full tutorial lessons for these songs below, there is a purchase link for a small fee.
Deeper discounts available from the side menu.
Bob Wills - Bobby Bare
Charlie Rich
Delbert McClinton - Freddie Hart
Hal Ketchum - Jerry Reed
Jim Reeves - Joe Brown
Johnny Horton - Johnny Rivers
Kris Kristofferson
Marty Robbins - Mickey Gilley
Ricky Skaggs - Rickey Van Shelton
TG Sheppard
Jump links to quickly access the songs sections.
Old Country Music Songs
Chords, Lyrics, Demos, Tutorials
1. 7th Son - Johnny Rivers
7th Son was a single release for Johnny Rivers back in 1965 and the song peaked at #7 on the US charts.
The track can be found on his album Meanwhile Back At The Whiskey A Go Go.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: down up down up and repeat
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: E, A7, B7
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2. 20th Century Drifter - Marty Robbins
20th Century Drifter hails from the 2014 album of the same name.
The song was never released as a single.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: 2nd fret is original key
- Rhythm: root down up down up down up root down up down up down up and repeat
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: D, Bm, Em, A7, E7, Gb, G
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3. 500 Miles Away From Home - Bobby Bare
500 Miles Away From Home was recorded by Bobby Bare in 1963 and became a top 10 on Billboard and a #5 on the country charts.
The track can be found on his album 500 Miles Away From Home.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: root down up root up down up and repeat
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: G, Em, Am, D, D7, Bm, A7
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4. A Very Special Love Song - Charlie Rich
A Very Special Love Song hails from Charlie's 1974 album called Very Special Love Songs.
The song was a #1 in both Canada and the US.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = root up down up root up down up and repeat
- Picking = a few riffs
- Chords = C, Caug, D7, Dm7, G, Em, Am, F, D#, A#, Gm, G7
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5. All I Ever Need Is You - Jerry Reed
All I Ever Need Is You was recorded by Jerry Reed with Chet Atkins as part of a duet album entitled Me And Chet back in 1972.
This version was never released as a single.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: root down up down up down up and repeat
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: - C, E7, Am, C7, F, D7, G, Em
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6. Amos Moses - Jerry Reed
Amos Moses was a single released back in 1970 by Jerry Reed from his album "Georgia Sunshine".
the song ranked at #8 in the US and #2 in Canada.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: 2nd fret
- Rhythm: down down down up down up with a few riffs
- Picking: a few riffs
- Chords: G, A7, C7, D7, A#, F, Fsus2(maj)
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7. Behind Closed Doors - Charlie Rich
Behind Closed Doors hails from Charlie's 1973 album of the same name.
This song topped the country charts in both Canada and The US the same year.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: root down up root up down up
- Picking: Yes a few riffs
- Chords: C, F, G, Dm, Em
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8. Big Iron - Marty Robbins
Big Iron was a 1960 release from Marty Robbins from his album Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs.
The song peaked at #5 in the US.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: root down up down up down up and repeat
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: Dbm, Ab7, E, A, E6
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9. Detroit City - Bobby Bare
Detroit City was co-written by Mel Tillis and Danny Dill and became a big hit for Bobby Bare back in 1963 when his version hit #1 in Norway, Sweden and #4 in the US.
The track can be found on the album Detroit City And Other Hits.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: root down up root up down up and repeat
- Picking: a few riffs
- Chords: E, A, B7, E7, Gb
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10. Devil Woman - Marty Robbins
Devil Woman hails from the 1962 album of the same name.
Marty Robbins scored a #1 in the US and a top 5 in the UK and Australia with this song.
- Drop D Tuning: Yes
- Capo: 2nd fret
- Rhythm: root down up root up down up and repeat
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: D, A7, G
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11. Don't Cheat In Our Hometown - Ricky Skaggs
Don't Cheat In Our Hometown was a #1 hit in both Canada and the US back in 1983.
The track can be found on the album of the same name.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: 1st fret = original key
- Rhythm: root down up root up down up and repeat
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: E, A, B7
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12. Easy Loving - Freddie Hart
Easy Loving was a breakthrough #1 hit for Freddie Hart whose music career in country was a bit under-whelming. That's to an Atlanta DJ who played this song alot, in Sept 1971 Hart had his first #1.
The song can be found on his "California Grapevine" album.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: root down up root up down up and repeat
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: G, G7, C, A7, D, D7
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13. Gotta Travel On - Bobby Bare
Gotta Travel On was a track from Bobby Bare's 1963 album 50 Miles Away From Home. The song was written back in 1927 as an American folk song but under a different name.
Pete Seger covered the song in 1958. There is no indication on how well the song did as a single for Bobby Bare.
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14. Have You Even Been Lonely - Jim Reeves
Have You Ever Been Lonely was written way back in 1932 and has been recorded by many artists through the years.
Both Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves recorded their own version in 1961 but the duo never recorded together. Cline died in a plane crash in 1963 and Reeves did also the following year.
But an electronic duet was created in 1981 by Owen Bradley, Clines original producer and combined the two voices against a newly created backing track. The song peaked at #5 on Billboard in 1982.
You'll find this on the "Jim Reeves Greatest Hits" album released in 1981.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No for the original key but on the 2nd here
- Rhythm = root down up root up down up
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = D, Am7, G, C, G7, A7, B7, E7, Edim
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15. He'll Have To Go - Jim Reeves
He'll Have To Go was a #1 country hit for Jim Reeves in the US. It was released in the fall of 1959 and topped the charts in 1960.
It can be found on the album of the same name.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = root up down up down up and repeat
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = C, G, F, C7, G7, Fm
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16. I Love You Because - Jim Reeves
l Love You Because did not chart in the US or Canada when it was released in 1964 but reached #1 in both Norway and Ireland and hit #6 in the UK. Leon Payne wrote the song and first released his version back in 1949.
Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash both covered this song.
This track is on the album "Gentleman Jim".
- Drop D Tuning = Yes
- Capo = 3rd fret
- Rhythm = root up down up bass up down up
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = D, D7, G, A7, E, E7
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17. I Loved 'em Everyone - TG Sheppard
I Loved 'Em Everyone was a #1 hit in the US and a #8 in Canada for T.G. Sheppard back in 1981.
The track can be found on his album I Love 'Em All.
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18. I'll See You In My Dreams - Joe Brown
I'll See You In My Dreams was released as a single back in 2012 by Joe Brown from his album The Ukulele Album but his version did not chart.
The song actually goes back to 1925 and was first released by Isham Jones Orchestra. Pat Boone also covered the song in 1962 with his version reaching #32 in the US and #27 in the UK.
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19. I've Cried My Last Tear For You - Ricky Van Shelton
I've Cried My Last Tear For You was one of four singles from the 1990 album RVS III.
This song hit #1 on the US Country charts and the other three songs were top 10 hits.
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20. Me And Bobby McGee - Kris Kristofferson
Me And Bobby McGee, probably the most famous song by Kris Kristofferson, was never released as a single by the artist.
The song appears on his 1970 debut album but the only single from that album was a song called To Beat The Devil, and if failed to chart.
After Janis Joplin recorded her version in 1971, this album was re-released and called Me And Bobby McGee, but still no Kristofferson single.
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21. Mohair Sam - Charlie Rich
Mohair Sam was the first single from Charlie Rich to break into the top 30 in the US country scene reaching #21. The song was also his first hit single in Canada peaking at #6.
The song is one of two singles from Charlie's 1965 album The Many New Sides.
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22. Moonlight And Roses - Jim Reeves
Moonlight And Roses was never released as a single but the track can be found on the album of the same name which was released in 1964.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 1st is original key
- Rhythm = root down root up down up and repeat
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = C, G7, F, Adim, Dm7, D/G#, A7, D7
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23. One Woman Man - Johnny Horton
One Woman Man or as it's officially called I'm A One Woman Man, is from Johnny Horton's 1956 album Honky Tonk Man.
The song peaked at #7 on the US country charts. George Jones and Randy Travis both covered this song as did Josh Turner and Glen Campbell.
- Drop D Tuning: Yes
- Capo: 2nd fret
- Rhythm: down up down up with walking bass
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: G, C, D
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24. Past The Point Of Rescue - Hal Ketchum
Past The Point Of Rescue was Hal Ketchum's only #1 which he had in Canada. This song peaked at #2 in the US.
Trace rack is from the 1991 album of the same name.
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25. Ride Me Down Easy - Bobby Bare
Ride Me Down Easy was a #11 hit for Bobby Bare back in 1973.
The track is from hos album I Hate Goodbyes/Ride Me Down Easy.
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26. Secret Agent Man - Johnny Rivers
Secret Agent Man was a 1966 single release from Johnny Rivers off of his album "And I Know You Wanna Dance".
The song peaked at #3 in the US and #4 in Canada.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: down up stop up down up stop up and repeat
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: Em, Am, B7, C7, Bm
Chords & Lyrics
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27. Singing The Blues - Marty Robbins
Singing The Blues was an early hit for Marty when it was released in 1956 from his Marty's Greatest Hits album.
This song reached 31 in the US.
- Drop D Tuning: Yes
- Capo: 2nd fret
- Rhythm: root down up root up down up
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: A7, D, G, Ab, A, D7
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28. Sink The Bismarck - Johnny Horton
Sink The Bismarck was a #6 hit on the US country charts in 1960 for Johnny Horton and hails from the album Johnny Horton Makes History.
Horton was killed in a car accident that same year and died at the age of 35. Johnny Cash did a reading at his funeral.
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29. Sixteen Tons - Tennessee Ernie Ford
Sixteen Tons became a #1 hit in the US in 1955. The song was written by Merle Travis and released by Travis in 1947. But Tennessee Ernie Fords version in 1955 has become the best known version.
The track is from his album Ford Favourites.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: 2nd fret = original key
- Rhythm: root down root up down up
- Picking: No
- Chords: Am, E, F, G, E7, Dm
Chords & Lyrics
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30. Small Town Saturday Night - Hal Ketchum
Small Town Saturday Night was Hal Ketchum's first single release from his 1991 album Past The Point Of Rescue.
Four singles were released and this song plus the albums title song both peaked at #2 on the US country chart.
Hal Ketchum never had a #1 hit in the US but Past The Point Of Rescue single hit #1 in Canada.
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31. Stand By Me - Mickey Gilley
Stand By Me made many millions of dollars in royalties alone for the writers Ben E King, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.
Ben E King had this song on the charts twice. Once in 1961 when it reached #1 and again in the 1980's when it reached #9. John Lennon covered the song in 1975 and Mickey Gilley did his version in 1980.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 2nd fret
- Rhythm = a root down up down up root up down up and repeat. A few instances near the end of the verse where you transition into the chorus you can chop it with some downstrokes on the Dsus, G and A7 chords as you'll see in the demo portion
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = D, Bm, G, A7 (or A), Dsus (optional)
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32. Sugar Moon - Bob Wills
Sugar Moon was written by Cindy Walker and Bob Wills. He recorded the song with his band The Texas Playboys back in 1947 where it peaked at #1.
Asleep At The Wheel and Willie Nelson also have cover versions out there.
You'll find this track on a double CD called Bob Wills And His Texas Playboys Collection (or Anthology) 1935-1973 2xCDS.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: root down up down up down up and repeat
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: C, D7, G7, C7, F
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33. The Most Beautiful Girl In The World - Charlie Rich
The Most Beautiful Girl is a track from the 1972 album Behind Closed Doors. That song was a #1 in the US and Canada.
This song was that and more, reaching #2 in the Uk and #3 in The Netherlands.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: root down up root up down up
- Picking: a few riffs
- Chords: G, C, Dm, G7, E, A7, D, Cm, Gm, Gm/Gb, Gm/F, Gm/E, D7
Chords & Lyrics
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34. Two More Bottles Of Wine - Delbert McClinton
Two More Bottles Of Wine was never released as a single by Delbert McClinton from his 1975 album Victim Of Life's Circumstances.
But Emmylou Harris released her version in the spring of 1978 and scored a hit single.
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35. Welcome To My World - Jim Reeves
Welcome To My World was a #2 hit in the US and a #1 in Ireland. It also peaked at #6 in the UK and #3 in Norway in 1964.
It can be found on his album "A Touch Of Velvet" from 1962.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 3rd fret
- Rhythm = root up down up and repeat
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = C, F, G, D7
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Thanks for stopping by this old country music songs page and I hope the info here was helpful.
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