Songs That Stopped You In Your Tracks

[bjer127]

Not sure if we had a thread on here like this. But basically any song that greatly affected you or you remember exactly where you were when you heard it first. Most of my songs are pre-streaming services and before I considered myself a music junkie. I listened to the radio and satellite radio a lot. When I liked a song I downloaded it or bought the CD.

Zac Brown Band "highway 20 ride": this song resembled a little of my childhood. Parents divorced when I was 9. My dad tried so hard to make sure I still had a normal life. He drove 40 minutes every other Friday to pick me up. I remember me and my girlfriend (now wife) were going to get a pizza on a Friday night. This song came on the radio
As we parked. I sat there until it was over then I cried. Song was so powerful. I then bought their debut album and been a fan ever since.

Tracy Lawrence " Paint me A Birmingham": this song came out when I was in high school. Heard it for the first time while riding around with my cousin in his old ford truck. I remember thinking to myself " now that is a damn good country song". It reminds me of my junior year when we would stand around the bonfire and sing along to this and "cowboys like us" lol. Ahhh 2003

Sugarland "Stay" : not a sugarland fan by any means. This is only song of theirs I own. I was walking around a department store actually in 2006 or 2007 when this came on the PA system. I listened and thought it was a great song.

George Strait " I saw God today": driving to work the day this song was serviced to radio. They played it 3 consecutive times on repeat. The morning disc jockey was practically sobbing. I remember that quite well. When my
Son was born in 2012 this song had a whole new meaning.

On the album front, I remember being bored one cold night in February 2008. I was searchjng iTunes for new music. I remembered I hadn't heard anything from jamey Johnson. I searched his name and came across an album he had put out independently. It was "that lonesome song". I sat there in my room for 45 minutes and was blown away. It was like discovering electricity for the first time hahaha. It wasn't until that summer that Mercury released it and he got the accolades. I still have the original artwork on my iPod. It was him barefoot sitting cross legged on a leather couch. Sans long hair and beard lol

Anybody else have songs they remember first hearing ?

[sabre14]

I'm on mobile right now but all these songs basically stopped me in my tracks the first time I heard them, where I went whoa. Jason and Gary's were just so emotion filled that they made me stop and take notice. The rest had a direct relation to my life.

Blake Shelton - "The Baby"
Randy Travis - "Angels"
Jason Michael Carroll - "Alyssa Lies"
The Farm - "Be Grateful"
Tracy Lawrence - "If I Don't Make It Back"
Jon Pardi - "That Man"
Brad Paisley - "Letter To Me"
Gary Allan - "Best I Ever Had"

[dm2081]

Good topic. Here are some of mine:
Highway 20 Ride - Zac Brown Band
What We Ain't Got- Jake Owen
The Good Stuff - Kenny Chesney
Always On My Mind - Willie Nelson
One Hell Of An Amen - Brantley Gilbert
I Drive Your Truck - Lee Brice
The House That Built Me - Miranda Lambert
Don't Take The Girl - Tim McGraw
You're Gonna Miss This - Trace Adkins
Bleed Red - Ronnie Dunn
Believe - Brooks & Dunn
Girl Crush - Little Big Town

[Deleted]

Brett Eldredge- Raymond
Alan Jackson- Midnight In Montgomery
Gary Allan- Smoke Rings In The Dark
Tim McGraw- Love You Goodbye
Josh Turner- Another Try
Steve Earle- Goodbye
Trace Adkins- Wayfaring Stranger
Jason Aldean- Back In This Cigarette
Billy Currington- Walk A Little Straighter
George Strait- Drinkin' Man
Kenny Chesney- I'm Alive
Eli Young Band- When It Rains

[Deleted]

Miranda Lambert's The House That Built Me was the first to come to mind for me.

I grew up in the same house, and didn't move away until college; all the little personal details in this song really hit home for me.

[tobysooner]

Alyssa Lies...Jason Michael Carroll

[H.]

Gary Allan - Life Ain't Always Beautiful
Jason Michael Carroll - Alyssa Lies
Brett Eldredge - Raymond
Tim McGraw - Don't Take The Girl
Kenny Chesney - There Goes My Life
Blaine Larsen - How Do You Get That Lonely 

[Markus Meyer]

Miranda Lambert - The House That Built Me
The Swon Brothers - This Side of Heaven
Ronnie Dunn - Bleed Red
Taylor Swift - Ronan

Off the top of my head, though I'm sure there's more.

[gardyfan]

Dusty Drake - One Last Time

[sabre14]

Brett Eldredge - "Raymond"

[killintime]

George Strait Nobody in His Right Mind
Amarillo by Morning

David Nail Clouds
The Secret

Any Vince Gill single

Travis Tritt Anymore

Brooks and Dunn Neon Moon

Various Clint Black stuff

Various ZBB stuff

Little Texas - What Might Have Been

And of course

Statler Brothers Name on the Wall

Lee Greenwood God Bless the USA gives me chills every time.


Edit: and FGL stops me in my tracks so that I can double over and vomit.

[Markus Meyer]

Jason Isbell - "Elephant"
Gary Allan - "Best I Ever Had" (hadn't heard this one until today, and HOLY CRAP is it ever heart wrenching)
Vince Gill - "Threaten Me With Heaven"
Chase Rice - "Jack Daniels and Jesus"
Eric Church - "Lightning"
Brantley Gilbert - "Saving Amy"

[josh]

Whoever's In New England-Reba
Love Is The Foundation-Loretta
You Never Miss A Real Good Thing-Crystal

[phil1996]

Brantley Gilbert: Saving Amy
Montgomery Gentry: Cold One Coming On
Kid Rock: Only God Knows Why
Eric Church: Lightning
Randy Houser: I'll Sleep
Gary Allan: Best I Ever Had
James Wesley: Jackson Hole

[sabre14]

Mar 15, 2015 18:21:19 GMT -5 phil1996 said:

James Wesley: Jackson Hole

[justme60]

If Tomorrow Never Comes - Garth Brooks
Nobody Drinks Alone - Keith Urban
Raymond - Brett Eldredge
The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia - Reba
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry - Hank Williams
American Soldier - Tobey Keith
Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning - Alan Jackson

[tim]

Great thread. I'd say I let my emotions best express themselves through music, so therefore my list of songs could go on and on. Here's some that I have on playlist for such "moments" in life:

"10,000 Miles," Mary Chapin Carpenter
"An Empty Glass," Gary Stewart
"Angels," Randy Travis
"The Baby," Blake Shelton
"The Dance," Garth Brooks
"Godspeed," Dixie Chicks as well as Randy Foster's version
"Go Rest High On That Mountain," Vince Gill
"Hero," Sturgill Simpson
"How Can I Help You Say Goodbye," Patty Loveless
"How Do You Get That Lonely," Blaine Larsen
"I Never Lost You," John Berry
"I'd Be Better Off (In A Pine Box)," Doug Stone
"If I Die Young," Band Perry
"Keep It Between the Lines," Ricky Van Shelton
"Last In Love," George Strait
"Life Ain't Always Beautiful," Gary Allan
"Live Forever," Little Big Town
"Long Trip Alone," Dierks Bentley
"Man With A Memory," Joe Nichols
"My Infinite Love," George Strait
"Not A Day Goes By," Lonetar
"Once In A While," Billy Dean
"One Day Left To Live," Sammy Kershaw
"One of These Days," Tim McGraw
"The Secret," David Nail
"Send It On Down," Lee Ann Womack
"Some Gave All," Billy Ray Cyrus
"So Much Like My Dad," George Strait
"Stronger," Carlene Carter
"That's My Job," Conway Twitty
"What Do You Say," Reba
"Whenever You Come Around," Vince Gill
"Whiskey Lullaby," Brad Paisley w/ Alison Krauss
"You'll Be There," George Strait

[sabre14]

Mar 15, 2015 22:58:28 GMT -5 tim said:

"How Can I Help You Say Goodbye," Patty Loveless
"How Do You Get That Lonely," Blaine Larsen
"I'd Be Better Off (In A Pine Box)," Doug Stone
"Life Ain't Always Beautiful," Gary Allan
"Whiskey Lullaby," Brad Paisley w/ Alison Krauss
"You'll Be There," George Strait

Good grief, how did I forget these?

I specifically remember hearing "You'll Be There" waiting for the bus after school my freshman year of high school. I didn't catch the very beginning, but I knew it was George, and I knew it was brand new. I simply was in awe of how beautiful it sounded, especially on a picturesque spring day.

Patty and Doug's I obviously didn't hear til years after they peaked, but I was certainly taken back by them (both I can relate to, which can be interpreted as a bad thing).

[tim]

Mar 15, 2015 23:08:54 GMT -5 sabre14 said:

Mar 15, 2015 22:58:28 GMT -5 tim said:

"You'll Be There," George Strait

Good grief, how did I forget these?

I specifically remember hearing "You'll Be There" waiting for the bus after school my freshman year of high school. I didn't catch the very beginning, but I knew it was George, and I knew it was brand new. I simply was in awe of how beautiful it sounded, especially on a picturesque spring day.

I know this song is quite hit or miss with most of Strait fans, but wow this song can sure strike a chord with me. It was released just days prior to my mom's passing and I lost it when I first heard it. I still can't quite make it through the whole song. My mom was always making it a point taking me to as many George Strait concerts possible growing up, so I always look back on it as being a sign from above.

[someguy]

Miranda Lambert - "The House That Built Me"
Trisha Yearwood- "The Song Remembers When"
Patty Loveless - "How Can I Help You Say Goodbye"
Reba McEntire - "The Greatest Man I Never Knew"
Dixie Chicks - "Not Ready To Make Nice"

[Deleted]

Mar 15, 2015 17:35:28 GMT -5 Markus Meyer said:

Gary Allan - "Best I Ever Had" (hadn't heard this one until today, and HOLY CRAP is it ever heart wrenching)

Wait, you hadn't heard this song until today!? :O

It is SOOOOO good (and so haunting, especially since he recorded it not long after his wife committed suicide). "Best I Ever Had" is probably my favorite song Gary has ever recorded, and that's saying a lot because I've liked pretty much everything he's ever done.

[bjer127]

One song I totally forgot to mention is Randy Houser " In Gods Time". That song is fantastic. You can't even download on iTunes anymore. I really wish Stoney Creek would let him put on his next album. It's definately Song of the Year material. I thought it would be a game changer for him back in 2011 but Show Dog couldn't do it

[Kat5Kind]

Invisible. I was in tears by the second lyric because I had felt like that for so long. Hearing that live last April was incredible. (Wanted too, but I won't get into that)

The House That Built Me
Alyssa Lies
Don't Forget To Remember Me
Faith When I Fall
One Hell of an Amen

There's more, but I don't have time to list them all.

[Ten Pound Hammer]

I find that songs don't often impact me on first listen. I think that's because I often didn't put much stock into letting music affect me until recently. For instance, "People Are Crazy" really gets me in hindsight. I already knew it was a great song, but my grandmother loved it (one of the few modern songs she liked), and I lost her three years ago.

My mom said that "You've Got to Stand for Something" and "Unanswered Prayers" both got to her on the first listen, because she was having a tough time dealing with my dad. Those two songs made her decide to divorce him.

Mar 16, 2015 3:57:54 GMT -5 jhomes87 said:

Mar 15, 2015 17:35:28 GMT -5 Markus Meyer said:

Gary Allan - "Best I Ever Had" (hadn't heard this one until today, and HOLY CRAP is it ever heart wrenching)

Wait, you hadn't heard this song until today!? :O

It is SOOOOO good (and so haunting, especially since he recorded it not long after his wife committed suicide). "Best I Ever Had" is probably my favorite song Gary has ever recorded, and that's saying a lot because I've liked pretty much everything he's ever done.

My mom hated the line "Love can be so boring" in that song.

[sabre14]

Mar 16, 2015 3:57:54 GMT -5 jhomes87 said:

Mar 15, 2015 17:35:28 GMT -5 Markus Meyer said:

Gary Allan - "Best I Ever Had" (hadn't heard this one until today, and HOLY CRAP is it ever heart wrenching)

Wait, you hadn't heard this song until today!? :O

It is SOOOOO good (and so haunting, especially since he recorded it not long after his wife committed suicide). "Best I Ever Had" is probably my favorite song Gary has ever recorded, and that's saying a lot because I've liked pretty much everything he's ever done.

That's the reason it's my favorite Gary song (over the fantastic "Smoke Rings In The Dark").

The first time I heard it was on Thunder Road radio show on WYRK when it was first released. It was a partly cloudy Sunday morning, and that first line "So you sailed away into a grey sky morning" made me go "Whoa". I knew about Gary's wife committing suicide and the whole song cut through me like very few songs have. Then the line "Was it what you wanted, could it be I'm haunted" sealed the deal for an all-time song. Incredible.

[someguy]

I've never been a huge fan of Gary's "Best I Ever Had". I mean I like it and all, but I guess I was a pretty big fan of Vertical Horizon's original from a couple years before, and I've always liked their version better. I'm sure it's just a case of whatever you hear first though. Probably if Gary's had been the first version I heard, I would've preferred his.

[Andy]

Lots of good picks all-around here. Many of mine have already been mentioned ("The House That Built Me", "You'll Be There", etc.). There are some I'm unfamiliar with that I plan to check out. This thread seems like a veritable goldmine for great songs one might not know about.

Here's my list of a few songs that blew me away and/or moved me greatly when I first heard them. I limited it to one song per artist, and also included some covers. I might go in-depth and write more about some of them when I have more time.

Billy Joe Shaver - When the Fallen Angels Fly
Chris Knight - A Crooked Road
Emmylou Harris - Better Off Without You
Gary Allan - No Judgement Day
Guy Clark - The Randall Knife
Hank Williams - Thy Burdens Are Greater Than Mine
Iris Dement - No Time to Cry
Jamey Johnson - That's How I Don't Love You
Jason Isbell - Dress Blues
Jerry Jeff Walker - Desperadoes Waiting For a Train
Matraca Berg - Back When We Were Beautiful
Robert Earl Keen - Lonely Feeling
Rodney Crowell - The Rock of My Soul
Steve Earle - Over Yonder (Jonathan's Song)
Todd Snider - Alcohol and Pills
Townes Van Zandt - Tecumseh Valley

[Markus Meyer]

Craig Morgan - "Every Friday Afternoon"

This one hit me like a tonne of bricks when I first heard it. Such a sad song :(

[someguy]

Tim McGraw - "Live Like You Were Dying"

It's always been a powerful song, but when I found out my dad has cancer, this came on shuffle just a few minutes later. Took on a new meaning for me.

[toomuchboy]

Faith Hill ~ "This Kiss"
Reba McEntire ~ "Forever Love"
Mark Wills ~ "Don't Laugh At Me"
Randy Travis ~ "Three Wooden Crosses"
John Michael Carroll ~ "Alyssa Lies"
Gary Allan ~ "Songs About Rain"
Taylor Swift ~ "Love Story"
Josh Turner ~ "Long Black Train"
LeAnn Rimes ~ "Probably Wouldn't Be This Way"
Taylor Swift ~ "Safe and Sound"
Kacey Musgraves ~ "Follow Your Arrow"