20 Of The Most Tear-Jerking ’90s Country Music Songs

Country music has always been known for its storytelling, and the ’90s were no exception.

If you’re a fan of the genre, these songs will bring back memories and maybe even a few tears. Let’s take a trip down memory lane with 20 of the most emotional ’90s country songs and their standout lyrics. They are sure to hit you right in the feels!

P.S. Don’t forget to grab your tissues.

1. “Please Remember Me” – Tim McGraw (1999)

Tim McGraw’s “Please Remember Me” is a touching ballad about a failed relationship and the hope that the ex-lover will remember the good times. The song beautifully captures the bittersweet nature of saying goodbye and the hope that the love shared will not be forgotten.

“You’ll find better love /
Strong as it ever was /
Deep as the river runs /
Warm as the morning sun /
Please remember me.”

2. “How Can I Help You Say Goodbye” – Patty Loveless (1993)

“How Can I Help You Say Goodbye” is a song about loss on multiple levels, from childhood friends moving away to the death of a mother. The song narrates three different experiences of saying goodbye, each representing a significant loss in the narrator’s life. Throughout the song, the narrator receives guidance and comfort from a loved one, helping her cope with the pain of each goodbye.

“And she said how can I help you to say goodbye? /
It’s okay to hurt and it’s okay to cry /
Come let me hold you and I will try /
How can I help you to say goodbye?”

3. “The Dance” – Garth Brooks (1989)

Officially released in 1989, Garth Brooks’ “The Dance” reflects on life’s fleeting moments and the inevitability of loss. Its powerful message and Brooks’ soulful delivery make it a go-to for a cathartic cry. The song emphasizes that despite pain or loss, experiences are worth having.

“And now, I’m glad I didn’t know /
The way it all would end, the way it all would go /
Our lives are better left to chance /
I could have missed the pain /
But I’d of had to miss the dance.”

4. “A Thousand Miles From Nowhere” – Dwight Yoakam (1993)

Dwight Yoakam’s “A Thousand Miles From Nowhere” captures the essence of loneliness and isolation. This atmospheric, moody track features a wandering confession from an isolated individual, making it one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs of the decade.

“I’m a thousand miles from nowhere /
Time don’t matter to me /
‘Cause I’m a thousand miles from nowhere /
And there’s no place I want to be.”

5. “Independence Day” – Martina McBride (1993)

Martina McBride’s “Independence Day” tells the story of a woman escaping an abusive relationship, narrated from her child’s perspective. The song serves as an anthem of liberation and a stark reminder of the cost of freedom.

“Let the weak be strong /
Let the right be wrong /
Roll the stone away /
Let the guilty pay /
It’s Independence Day.”

6. “When I Call Your Name” – Vince Gill (1989)

Released in 1989, Vince Gill’s “When I Call Your Name” is a heartfelt expression of the pain of unrequited love. It tells the story of a man who returns home to find his partner has left, leaving him to grapple with the pain of her absence.

“Oh, the lonely sound of my voice callin’ /
Is drivin’ me insane /
And just like rain, the tears keep fallin’ /
But nobody answers when I call your name.”

7. “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her” – Mary Chapin Carpenter (1992)

“He Thinks He’ll Keep Her” tells the story of a neglected housewife who fulfills traditional roles as a wife and mother, only to realize that her contributions and sacrifices are taken for granted by her unappreciative husband. It explores her journey toward self-empowerment and independence.

“Everything runs right on time /
Years of practice and design /
Spit and polish ’til it shines /
He thinks he’ll keep her.

Everything is so benign /
Safest place you’ll ever find /
God forbid you change your mind /
He thinks he’ll keep her.”

8. “Whiskey Lullaby” – Brad Paisley & Alison Krauss (2003)

Although technically from the early ‘2000s, “Whiskey Lullaby” carries the ’90s country spirit. The duet between Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss tells the tragic story of a couple whose love ends in heartbreak and sorrow, driven by haunting melodies and lyrics.

“He put that bottle to his head and pulled the trigger /
And finally drank away her memory /
Life is short, but this time, it was bigger /
Than the strength he had to get up off his knees.

We found him with his face down in the pillow /
With a note that said, ‘I’ll love her ’til I die’ /
And when we buried him beneath the willow /
The angels sang a whiskey lullaby.”

9. “Wide Open Spaces” – The Chicks (1998)

The Chicks’ “Wide Open Spaces” is an anthem for young women striking out on their own. The song narrates the journey of a young woman leaving home to explore the world and find herself, touching on the inevitable changes and challenges of growing up.

“She needs, wide open spaces /
Room to make her big mistakes /
She needs, new faces /
She knows the high stakes.”

10. “The Song Remembers When” – Trisha Yearwood (1993)

Trisha Yearwood’s “The Song Remembers When” deals with the powerful ability of music to transport listeners back to specific moments in their lives. The song explores how a familiar tune can evoke vivid memories of past times, places, and emotions.

“After taking every detour /
Gettin’ lost and losin’ track /
So that even if I wanted /
I could not find my way back.

After drivin’ out the memory /
Of the way things might have been /
After I’d forgotten all about us /
The song remembers when.”

11. “Don’t Take the Girl” – Tim McGraw (1994)

In “Don’t Take the Girl,” Tim McGraw tells a touching story of love and sacrifice, spanning from childhood to adulthood. The song follows the life of Johnny and his love interest through three pivotal moments in his life.

“Take the very breath you gave me /
Take the heart from my chest /
I’ll gladly take her place if you’ll let me /
Make this my last request /
Take me out of this world /
God, please, don’t take the girl.”

12. “Just A Dream” – Carrie Underwood (2007)

Though released in 2007, “Just A Dream” by Carrie Underwood has the emotional depth of ’90s country. The song narrates the story of a young woman who loses her fiancé, a soldier, making it a powerful and emotional ballad.

“Baby, why’d you leave me? Why’d you have to go? /
I was countin’ on forever, now I’ll never know /
I can’t even breathe.

It’s like I’m lookin’ from a distance, standin’ in the background /
Everybody’s sayin’ he’s not comin’ home now /
This can’t be happenin’ to me /
This is just a dream.”

13. “Go Rest High On That Mountain” – Vince Gill (1994)

Vince Gill’s “Go Rest High On That Mountain” is a tribute to his late brother, and its meaningful lyrics and Gill’s soulful delivery make it a moving eulogy that resonates with anyone who has experienced loss.

“So go rest high on that mountain /
Son, your work on earth is done /
Go to heaven a-shoutin’ /
Love for the Father and the Son.”

14. “Butterfly Kisses” – Bob Carlisle (1997)

“Butterfly Kisses” is a heartwarming yet tear-inducing song about a father’s love for his daughter. It explores the emotional moments in a father’s relationship with his daughter, from childhood to her wedding day.

“Oh, with all that I’ve done wrong /
I must have done something right /
To deserve a hug every morning /
And butterfly kisses at night.”

15. “The Fool” – Lee Ann Womack (1997)

“The Fool” explores the pain of loving someone who has moved on. The song captures the raw emotion of heartbreak and longing, as the narrator addresses the new woman in her ex-lover’s life, revealing that she is the “fool” still in love with him.

“I know that you’ve probably heard my name /
Though we’ve not been introduced /
I’m the fool in love with the fool /
Who is still in love with you.”

16. “You Were Mine” – The Chicks (1998)

“You Were Mine” by The Chicks is an emotional reflection on the end of a relationship and the resulting impact on the family. It recounts the emotional turmoil of a woman who is grappling with the loss of her partner and the subsequent effect on their children.

“Sometimes I wake up cryin’ at night /
And sometimes I scream out your name /
What right does she have to take you away /
When for so long you were mine?”

17. “Carrying Your Love With Me” – George Strait (1997)

George Strait’s “Carrying Your Love With Me” is a heartfelt ballad about the enduring nature of love, even when separated by distance. The song centers on the narrator’s journey away from his loved one, carrying the strength of their love with him wherever he goes.

“It’s my strength for holding on /
Every minute that I have to be gone /
I’ll have everything I ever need /
Carrying your love with me.”

18. “Blue” – LeAnn Rimes (1996)

LeAnn Rimes’s “Blue” is a melancholy song about loneliness and heartache. The song truly captures the classic country feel of longing and sorrow.

“Three o’clock in the morning /
Here am I /
Sitting here so lonely /
So lonesome I could cry/

Blue /
Oh, so lonesome for you /
Why can’t you be blue over me?”

19. “It Matters To Me” – Faith Hill (1995)

“It Matters to Me” is all about the emotional complexities of a troubled relationship. The song focuses on the emotional disconnect in a relationship, highlighting the importance of communication and understanding between partners. It follows the narrator’s plea for her partner to recognize and value her feelings.

“When I don’t know what to say, don’t know what to do /
Don’t know if it really even matters to you /
How can I make you see? /
It matters to me.”

20. “Chiseled In Stone” – Vern Gosdin (1988)

Released in the late ’80s, Vern Gosdin’s “Chiseled In Stone” is a heartbreaking story of regret and loss. The song centers on the profound grief and loneliness that comes with losing a loved one. It presents an emotional story about the consequences of taking love for granted and the irreversible nature of certain losses.

“And you don’t know about sadness /
’til you faced life alone /
You don’t know about lonely /
’til it’s chiseled in stone.”