10 Country Songs for your Halloween Playlist

It's that time of year again! Whatever your plans are this Halloween, you will want these songs on your playlist to truly embrace the spirit of the holiday.

1) "Two Black Cadillacs" - Carrie Underwood 

 

We're starting Halloween with this hit from Carrie Underwood's 2012 Blown Away album. With songwriting contributions from Hilary Lindsey (Girl Crush) and Josh Kear (Before He Cheats), Two Black Cadillacs tells the chilling tale of two women who discover that they are in relationships with the same man. They decide to work together to murder him (obviously). This alongside the chilling instrumentation of the song are perfect for the holiday.

 2) "Goodbye Earl" - Dixie Chicks

Up next on our list is another murder ballad- leave it to Country music to tell these cheerful stories. Since 1999, Goodbye Earl has been a staple amongst Country fans. It's the go-to song for karaoke, hoedowns or even just driving to work. It's great to dance and sing along to, making it ideal for your Halloween party.

3) "Trouble My Heart (Oh Harriet)" - The Orphan Brigade

Nothing says Halloween like a love song written for a ghost. In 2015, The Orphan Brigade (featuring Ben Glover and Gretchen Peters) brought us Soundtrack to a Ghost Story, a selection of songs written and recorded in one of the USA's most haunted houses. This particular song was written for the former lady of the house. It's a great concept for an album and I recommend listening to the whole project but for now, this song is my personal favourite track.

 4) "Better Dig Two" - The Band Perry

This track from The Band Perry was released in 2012. The song is written from the perspective of a "psycho girlfriend" character who claims she simply can't live without her husband - "If divorce or death ever do us part, the coroner will call it a broken heart"
Better Dig Two delves into Bluegrass and Rock; This in addition to the desperation in Kimberly Perry's vocals and the song's minor key signature* make it the ultimate combination of unsettling and catchy - exactly what you need this time of year.
  *The song is in the key of A minor with a raised sixth note - for any musicians out there.

 5) "Midnight in Montgomery" - Alan Jackson

Another ghost story on our list. Alan Jackson's 1992 hit, tells us the story of a man who visits the grave of Hank Williams on the anniversary of his death and encounters the ghost of Hank Williams. The ghost thanks him and disappears. The storytelling in this song is slightly more heart-warming and nostalgic than some of the others on our playlist but the picking on the acoustic guitar creates an eerie Halloween atmosphere.

6) "Creepin'" - Eric Church

This 2012 Country Rock song discusses memories of the narrator's ex-girlfriend "creepin'" up on him. The electric guitar and kick drum alongside the various effects on Eric Church's voice, make this song unsettling but also easy to dance to - another one that would be perfect for your Halloween party.

7) "Blackbirds" - Gretchen Peters

 Next up on our spooky playlist is this 2015 track by Gretchen Peters. Co-written with Ben Glover, this song tells the story of a woman who has killed someone who hurt her. The song features some very strong imagery and powerful, haunting metaphors - "there's shadows in the shadows, there's trouble in the cane, there's things you do that you just can't explain". This accompanied by a distorted guitar and bassline creates a truly chilling atmosphere.

8) "Somewhere With You" - Kenny Chesney

Kenny Chesney's 2010 hit tells the story of someone who is trying to move on from a broken relationship. Whilst the lyrics in this song are significantly less unsettling than some of the other songs on our list, the melodies in this song bring a sense of desperation and darkness which we wouldn't usually expect from the artist who brought us "She Thinks my Tractor's Sexy".
This song crosses over into the Pop/Rock genres making it accessible, easy to dance to and a must have for your party playlist.

9) "You Are My Sunshine" - The Civil Wars

The song was first recorded in 1939 and has since been covered countless times. However, don't be fooled by the innocent and familiar title of this track. For their rendition, The Civil Wars have completely turned the song upside down. By performing it in a minor key, the once cheerful, uplifting tune is now dark and unnerving yet undoubtedly beautiful.

10) If I Didn't Know Better - Nashville Cast

Last but not least on our Halloween playlist is this classic from the first season of Nashville. This is another song on our list where it is the melodies which give the lyrics their spooky flare. The slow, meandering guitar riff alongside some dangerously high vocals from Sam Palladio and Clare Bowen provides one last chilling track for your playlist.

You can listen to all of these songs below. Let us know what your favourite spooky Country songs are. Happy Halloween, everyone!