Mel Tillis Songs Ranked
Lonnie Melvin Tillis (August 8, 1932 – November 19, 2017) was an American country music singer and songwriter. Although he recorded songs since the late 1950s, his biggest success occurred in the 1970s as part of the outlaw country movement, with a long list of Top 10 hits. Tillis’ biggest hits include “I Ain’t Never”, “Good Woman Blues”, and “Coca-Cola Cowboy”. On February 13, 2012, President Barack Obama awarded Tillis the National Medal of Arts for his contributions to country music. He also won the Country Music Association Awards’ most coveted award, Entertainer of the Year. Tillis was a member of the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Country Music Hall of Fame. Additionally, he was known for his stutter, which did not affect his singing voice. His daughter is 1990s country hitmaker Pam Tillis. Here are all of Mel Tillis songs ranked.
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10. I Got the Hoss (Church Street Station Presents: Mel Tillis, 1988)
“The song is about a man who gets a horse as a gift and then has to figure out how to take care of it. Lyrically, the music is lighthearted and fun, with Tillis’ trademark humor on full display. The lyrics describe the horse as “the biggest, meanest hoss in the county” and Tillis as “the luckiest man alive.”
9. Memory Maker (Hitsides! 1970-1980, 2006)
“One of Tillis’s most personal songs, “Memory Maker,” is a touching ode to his daughter Pam, born with a congenital heart defect. Tillis has said that he wrote the song to tell his daughter how much he loved her and how proud he was of her courage and strength in fighting through her illness.”
8. I Believe in You (I Believe in You, 1978)
“The lyrics tell the story of a man who has been through some hard times, but he still believes in the power of love. The song reminds us that no matter what life throws at us, we should never give up on our dreams.”
See more: Mel Tillis Albums Ranked
7. Mental Revenge (Stateside, 1966)
“The song is about a man planning to take revenge on his cheating wife and her lover. It clearly describes the betrayal he feels and the anger boiling inside of him. It says that even though he knows that revenge is not the answer, he can’t help but think about it.”
6. I’m Tired (Look At Life, 1983)
“It says a lot about the hard-working blue-collar worker trying to make ends meet. The song tells a lot about how hard work can wear a person down. Musically, the music is upbeat and has a catchy melody, and it’s easy to see why it was a hit.”
5. Southern Rains (Mel Tillis Greatest Hits, 1969)
“This song will make you nostalgic for a time and place you may have never even experienced. It was released in December 1980 from an album of the same name.”
See more: Pam Tillis Songs Ranked
4. Sawmill (Look At Life, 1983)
“It is a song about a sawmill worker killed in an accident. A true story inspired the song, and Tillis said it was one of the hardest songs he ever wrote. “Sawmill” is a sad but beautiful song, showing Tillis’ talent for storytelling. Its lyrics are simple but effective, and the song has a catchy melody.”
3. Good Woman Blues (Love Revival 1976)
“This song is an excellent example of Tillis’ story-telling ability. It’s a classic country song about a man trying to figure out what he did wrong in his relationship. The song starts with the man asking his friends for advice on what he should do to try and win back his woman. His friends all give him a different direction, but none of it seems to help.”
2. I Ain’t Never (Look At Life, 1983)
“The song describes a man who has never done anything wrong. The song was a significant hit, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot CS chart and becoming a signature song for Pierce and Tillis.”
1. Coca Cola Cowboy (Every Which Way but Loose, 1978)
“The song is about a cowboy who is down on his luck and turns to drink to forget his troubles. The song is an excellent example of Tillis’ storytelling abilities and humor. The song was also featured in the film “Every Which Way but Loose,” which starred Clint Eastwood, which helped to increase its popularity.”
