Sometimes you have to work really hard for things, and then other times, it just kind of falls right into your lap. I'll be the first to admit, I didn't put a ton of thought into this post today. The fact is, writing this post is almost "easy mode" for me. As we have worked our way through the states of the union, there are quite a few that have given me a run for my money. Then there are others that need very little research or thought at all. Like California, and New York before, Tennessee fits that bill perfectly. In fact, I think the next two weeks are going to be pretty easy for me to find songs to share with you.
Like I said, with Tennessee being this week and Texas being next week, it shouldn't be too hard to find a song or two that contains the state name in the title or lyrics. Obviously, they are most likely going to be country songs for both of those states, but I do have a surprise or two for you as I share my songs for #threetunetuesday sponsored by 
Tennessee is one of those states that I have definitely been to. It's a pretty awesome place and Nashville is one of my favorite places to visit. I'm going to share some photos from my trips over the past few years down to Tennessee.
What actually might make Tennessee a little hard for this post is that there are just so many songs that have the name of the state in the title or lyrics. It's almost more work whitling it down to three songs versus even trying to find one like some states have challenged. I've actually got two ready to go and a couple others in the back of my head I have been thinking about, but I am not sure if I want to share those. I might have to rethink this...
Morgan Wallen is an interesting fellow. After being a wash out from the competition show The Voice, someone saw something in him that they grew into something pretty great. He had some really good songs before the Dangerous Double album came out and then he just lit the world on fire. Unfortunately, he burned a bit too bright and after a few drunken escapades, there was a bit of a taint on him. Somehow, that doesn't seem to matter any more. I know very few people who still hold the grudge for his drunken racist comments that one night several years ago.
In fact, both of my nieces who are biracial still love him and even went to his concert a few weeks ago. Maybe that's the way it's supposed to be. I don't know. If he is sincerely sorry for what he did, then maybe that should be enough. I really enjoy his music, but for me that whole situation kind of casts a cloud over anything he does.
"Sand In My Boots" is one of my favorite songs from the Dangerous Double album and it definitely has a reference to Tennessee in it. It's a sad song about a summer fling he was hoping would become more, but sadly, she left him hanging. Instead of coming home with a new love, he just came home with sand in his boots.
Bummer.
While this isn't a country song, if you are a child of the 80's/90's like I am, "Tennessee" by Arrested Development is probably one of the first songs that comes to your mind when you hear the state name. In fact, I can't hear the name of the state without singing the opening lines of this song.
Arrested Development hit the scene when hip hop was really coming into its own and with all the other gangster rap that was blowing up, this was a song that was actually able to get a lot of airplay. Besides the opening line, they don't actually mention Tennessee that much, but since it does have the name of the state in the title, it definitely fits the bill.
Unfortunately, I don't think Arrested Development had many big hits beyond this song, but it's one that I will always carry with me. Like I said, if you grew up in the US around the same time as I did, you probably do as well.
Finally, given her recent passing, I feel it's only right that I should share a song with you from the great Dolly Parton. I'll be the first to admit, that I don't know a ton of her songs outside of the big hits. I actually find that kind of embarrassing to admit, but it's the truth.
"Tennessee Mountain Home" is one of the many songs that Dolly wrote herself and like many of her songs it tells a story of her humble upbringing in the mountain wilderness of Tennessee. It's actually been a long time since I have been to the more mountainous area of Tennessee. The majority of my trips lately have been to Nashville as I mentioned before and it's not nearly as hilly there as it is on the Eastern side of the state near the Smokey Mountains.
So there you go, Tennessee. I hope you like country music, because like I said, next week is Texas and I expect you are going to get a whole lot more of it. I've already got one or two songs in store for you, and they are definitely country songs.
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