The answer is Friends in Low Places. That is the perfect country song.

_________________
Lay off that whiskey and let that cocaine be.

"You Never Even Called Me By My Name'"

_________________
General Jim wears Fort Bragg down... to get it!

Glen Campbell, Rhinestone Cowboy

_________________

The End of the World by Skeeter Davis

All my exes live in Texas.

I lived it.

_________________
Sex isn't dirty, sex isn't a crime. It's a loving act between two or more consenting adults.

-Hank Kingsley

Mama Tried

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Amarillo by Morning

or

He Stopped Loving Her Today

_________________
When I am stuck and need to figure something out I always remember the Immortal words of Socrates when he said:"I just drank what?"

This is probably the winner. I didn't realize that Prine co-wrote it but was too drunk to remember what he may or may not have contributed to the song so he refused to take any credit for it.

In a close 2nd...... "Guitars and Cadillacs"

_________________
That's my purse! I don't know you!

The original didn't say anything at all about mama or trains, or trucks, or prison, or getting' drunk.

"Waitin' Around to Die" by Townes Van Zandt

_________________

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I met one of the songwriters in Nashville about 20 years ago. He lives off the songwriting credit.

I was staying on my cousin's houseboat in Nashville and I was the only one up at the time. It was like 1am.

There's a knock on the door and these two rough looking dudes ask for my cousin in sort of a "let him know we're here" kind of way. They head straight for the liquor cabinet, grab the bourbon and commence to storytelling.

That was a good night.

_________________
Sex isn't dirty, sex isn't a crime. It's a loving act between two or more consenting adults.

-Hank Kingsley

This.

Folsom Prison Blues a close 2nd.

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

_________________

...

_________________
There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

It probably falls more into the category of most well known country song, but The Gambler seems like it should be in the conversation for the greatest ever.

_________________

Honky Tonk Heroes

_________________
My Maserati does 186.

The answer is either "Milk and Tears," by Kev Russell's Junker or "Windfall," by Son Volt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_9tGEZRohU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNTQ2DuJKtU

Honorable Mention:
"A Song for You," Whiskeytown (Gram Parsons cover):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9hNExzwlhA
"Imbibing My Prescriptions," Kev Russell's Junker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFEugY-1eIs
"Everything Is Free," Gillian Welch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_hZWTdc9Us

_________________

Two more honorable mentions:

"Alabama Pines," Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9d5yNcFGlY
"Concrete and Barbed Wire," Lucinda Williams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svlGYj0U5dE

_________________

I'd really say it's probably something by George Jones or the Carter Family or Hank.

How about "Tennessee Whiskey"? "Can the Circle Be Unbroken"? "Your Cheatin' Heart"?

_________________
General Jim wears Fort Bragg down... to get it!

I'd love to put a song from Jason Isbell in a conversation for greatest country song, I just think his music needs some more time before I can say it. That said, I thought his work with Drive-by Truckers was great and he's definitely my favorite country artist at the moment.

_________________

definitely a contender

Luckenbach Texas

El Paso

Knoxville Girl

Papa Was A Rodeo

Speed of the Sound of Loneliness

'Hot Dog'
Led-Zeppelin

_________________

Walking After Midnight

That's a beautiful song.

_________________
There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

I'm Gonna Hire a Wino to Decorate Our Home, Long Legged Guitar Pickin' Man, take me home country roads, ring of fire are all good. I like devil went down to Georgia too.

I like Zac Brown Band. Toes and Good bye in her eyes are personal faves. A lot of pop/country in the 90s was fun Who can forget red solo cup? I liked Fancy and I like old stuff too.

everybody seems to like the dance. I think it's okay.

It's a fun genre but can also be very poignant. Seems like it's full of good people.

I'll always love Good ol' boys too.

Friends in Low Places would be the 1/1 seed, odds on favorite in this tourney.

There are a ton I like personally and could listen to anytime, but as OP noted, that’s the best and there’s really not a close 2nd.

_________________

Hi.

FavreFan would like to have a word with you.

_________________
Sex isn't dirty, sex isn't a crime. It's a loving act between two or more consenting adults.

-Hank Kingsley

Country Roads - John Denver


Usually I would say : Okie From Muskogee - Merle Haggard - because it was about squares and i'm the biggest square of all (and proud of it!) so it felt like the song was written for me.

But now the song is cancelled because it's considered racist!!! So I cannot nominate it any longer.