Taking the world by storm with his One Night At A Time tour as we speak, Morgan Wallen is undoubtedly one of the biggest (if not the biggest) country stars of 2024, releasing smash hit after smash hit.
With his highly-anticipated collaboration with Post Malone titled “I Had Some Help” hitting streaming services tomorrow last week — as well as playing an unreleased track titled “Lies Lies Lies” during his live performances as of late — Wallen has some brand new tunes on the horizon that country music lovers are just too excited for, but how does his current discography measure up?
Releasing three albums thus far — If I Know Me in 2018, Dangerous: The Double Album in 2021 and One Thing At A Time in 2023 — Wallen has over 100 songs to his name (including some collaborations) as of May of 2024. While each album has some smash hits, they tend to have some hidden gems as well, and Country Chord has you covered.
After listening to each album from top to bottom, I’ve pinpointed the top five songs from each record and ranked them from “worst” to best. Keep scrolling to see for yourself…
If I Know Me (2018)
5. “Whiskey Glasses”
Still serving as one of his signature songs in the year 2024, country music lovers simply cannot get enough of “Whiskey Glasses.” Throughout the track, Wallen sings about what he has time and time again: using alcohol to numb the pain that comes with heartbreak, described as seeing the world “through whiskey glasses.” When asked about the tune, Wallen told Genius, “I think we’ve all been there in that situation. We’ve all been through something and for that moment we decided we didn’t want to feel it… I thought that song was a great representation of that feeling.” While it might not be the healthiest habit, the success of “Whiskey Glasses” cannot be ignored, taking the number five spot on our list, as it is one of Wallen’s first smash hits.
4. “Chasin’ You”
The whiskey references are evident throughout If I Know Me, lending itself to “Chasin’ You” as well, this time in a far more lovey dovey fashion. In this track, Wallen sings about the importance of a not giving up on true love over a dreamy backdrop, choosing to chase down the perfect partner instead of letting them go. Garnering a great deal of success via TikTok, rightfully so, we just had to put “Chasin’ You” in the top five songs featured on If I Know Me. It might be mainstream, but this track will always be stupendous in my eyes!
3. “Had Me By Halftime”
While it might not be one of Wallen’s most popular tracks of all time, “Had Me By Halftime” is about the country crooner — who doubles as a proud Tennessee Volunteers fan — meeting girl at a football game and falling in love. Reminiscent of other football-themed tunes, such as “I Hate Alabama” by Conner Smith and “South On Ya” by Luke Combs, “Had Me By Halftime” can be considered the cooler, older brother to One Thing At A Time‘s “Tennessee Fan.” While “Tennessee Fan” is a great song nonetheless, “Had Me By Halftime” was the first of its kind, setting the precedent for future football-themed tunes from Wallen. Naturally, we had to give credit where credit is due by placing the track in the top five songs on If I Know Me.
2. “If I Know Me”
Of course the title track had to fall into the top five tunes featured on If I Know Me. In “If I Know Me,” Wallen meets a woman at a bar and wants a relationship with her, to which she declines. Agreeing to a one night stand, the Tennessee native admits his predictable patterns when it comes to hookups, singing that he might not be able to resist repeating this experience, exemplified by the title of the track: “If I Know Me.” While the lyrics lack some of the depth that fans know and love from Wallen, the catchy, twangy tune of “If I Know Me” is what causes it to take the number two spot on our list, causing the listener to bust a move whenever and wherever they hear it. You’re sure to be stomping your boots after just one listen!
1. “The Way I Talk”
Once described as “Bruce Springsteen meets Larry The Cable Guy,” “The Way I Talk” is the best song to stem from Wallen’s debut studio album, If I Know Me, in my opinion. The track is all about celebrating who you truly are, which for Wallen consists of his signature southern twang, utilizing the words “y’all” and “yonder” throughout the lyrics of “The Way I Talk.” Showcasing a charming and genuine side to Wallen, this tune tells a story that is unlike anything we have heard from Wallen since, causing it to stand the test of time. Even with countless other songs added to his portfolio, “The Way I Talk” — which doubles as the country crooner’s debut single — is still among his best, topping our If I Know Me ranking.
Dangerous: The Double Album (2021)
Dangerous: The Double Album (Bonus) (2021)
5. “Somebody’s Problem”
On an album that is jam-packed with heartbreak songs, “Somebody’s Problem” is a breath of fresh air, falling into the top five songs featured on Dangerous. Meeting a gorgeous girl at a party who he seemingly cannot forget about, Wallen’s lovey dovey side is on full display throughout “Somebody’s Problem.” Despite the lyrics being on the shallower side — complimenting her blue eyes and tan lines — what makes the song so special is his stellar vocals, as well as the acoustic noodling featured throughout the tune, making it the perfect track to listen to while getting ready, cleaning the house, aimlessly driving around, and more.
4. “Cover Me Up”
Although it is a cover — originally recorded by Jason Isbell for his fourth studio album, Southeastern — we cannot deny the musical masterpiece that is “Cover Me Up,” taking the number four spot on our Dangerous ranking, despite Wallen’s lack of originality. “Cover Me Up” was originally written by Jason Isbell as a love letter to his wife, Amanda Shires, as seen by specific references to their relationship — as well as references to Isbell’s sobriety journey — throughout the tune,. Reimagined by Wallen, the Tennessee native sings about an peaceful, amazing night alone with his significant other, despite the hell that it took to finally get there. While Isbell’s version was jam-packed with passion, Wallen’s version introduced a longing feeling with his drawled vocals, ultimately solidifying him as a force to be reckoned with and a true trailblazer within the genre.
3. “865”
Working an entire phone number into a single song is extremely impressive and unique — with the exception of “867-5309/Jenny” by Tommy Tutone — and Wallen does this in a way that is truly poetic in “865.” In this heartbreaking tune, the talented singer/songwriter tells a whiskey-filled story of longingly staring into his glass while sitting alone at a bar, wondering what went wrong with his former fling. Wallen handles his split in true cowboy fashion — drowning his sorrows in alcohol — but instead of an angry beer-slinging breakup song, “865” uses complex lyrics and an beautiful beat, allowing the track to come in as one of the top five best songs featured on Dangerous.
2. “Sand In My Boots”
Speaking of reminiscing a former fling, Wallen finds himself in denial throughout “Sand In My Boots,” which is a stark contrast from his feeling of acceptance in One Thing At A Time‘s “Last Drive Down Main” listed below. Throughout the tune, Wallen does anything he can to forget about his ex-girlfriend — from traveling to touring to drinking and beyond — but consistently feels the exact same afterwards, struggling to let go of this lost love. “Sand In My Boots” reminds country music lovers that the healing process is never linear — a reminder that each and every listener, myself included, can use at one point or another — in a spectacular fashion. Showing a real, raw, and vulnerable side to Wallen, “Sand In My Boots” reinforced his serious depth as an artist, ultimately falling into the number two spot on our Dangerous ranking.
1. “Bandaid On A Bullet Hole”
It might be a hot take putting “Bandaid On A Bullet Hole” in the number one spot on Dangerous, however, in my opinion, it is among Wallen’s best. Telling almost the exact same story as “Sand In My Boots” — doing everything he can to move on from a lost love and failing time and time again — the piano-focused song lets the country crooner’s vocals be the star of the show as he attempts to heal, however, each attempt is “like tryin’ to put a Bandaid on a bullet hole” (AKA unsuccessful). Showing a real, raw, and vulnerable side to Wallen once again, “Bandaid On A Bullet Hole” trumps “Sand In My Boots” ever so slightly, but both songs are nothing short of sensational, serving as some of Wallen’s best tunes to date.
One Thing At A Time (2023)
5. “One Thing At A Time”
Of course the title track — and the inspiration behind his critically-acclaimed One Night At A Time world tour — had to place in the top five songs featured on One Thing At A Time. Often considered a bigger and better version of the title track of his 2021 album, Dangerous, Wallen sings to his ex-girlfriend about the different options he has to better his livelihood, giving her an ultimatum. If she decides to take him back, he will quit smoking, drinking, and all of his other harmful habits, but until then, Wallen is “only quitting one thing at a time.” Admitting that “One Thing At A Time” is one of his personal favorites on the album — as well as one that “matches his personality really well” — if Morgan Wallen loves the tune, how could we not love it equally as much?
4. “Everything I Love”
Wallen’s “Everything I Love” is truly one-of-a-kind, singing about a story of heartbreak all while using a playful and upbeat tune. Utilizing an interpolation of “Midnight Rider” by The Allman Brothers, the country crooner sings about all of the things that he used to love doing with his former fling over a 90s country backdrop. Now that they have split, Wallen believes everything that they did together is now demolished once and for all, best exemplified by the line “you ruined damn near everything I love” in the chorus. Showing a twangier side of Wallen, “Everything I Love” takes the fourth spot on our One Thing At A Time ranking due to its classic country sound that once again solidifies Wallen’s strong spot within the genre, but also due to the song’s unique storytelling altogether.
3. “Last Drive Down Main”
Thematically reminiscent of Noah Kahan — who often references New England, specifically his home state of Vermont, to discuss the downfall of his relationship — “Last Drive Down Main” is a bittersweet song about a relationship coming to a close, symbolized by Wallen taking one last drive down Main Street. Referring to Main Street as “memory lane,” Wallen reflects on the memories and shared experiences he had with his former significant other during his final drive, implying that he is leaving the town behind, as well as his relationship. Examining the emotional struggles that come with a breakup — and the difficulties that a heartbroken individual often faces while trying to move on — “Last Drive Down Main” is a beautiful yet relatable song that was a bit of a curveball coming from Morgan Wallen, omitting alcohol from this heartbreak song, as opposed to tunes like “865” and “Wasted on You.”
2. “Man Made A Bar” (feat. Eric Church)
“Man Made A Bar” has been a favorite of mine ever since Wallen and Church debuted it live at the 2023 CMA Awards, telling the story of a man who walks into a bar looking for a shot of something strong to numb his pain, yet the bartender teaches him a great deal about life instead. The track revamps the biblical creation story of Adam and Eve into the creation of a bar, which is often used as a remedy for broken hearts. “I couldn’t tell if it was cheesy at first… It’s a little tongue in cheek, but it’s cool because I think there’s a lot of people that could relate to it,” one of the co-writers, Brett Tyler, told American Songwriter. While the idea was definitely out of the box, it is safe to say that the story was delivered in an exquisite way by both Wallen and Church, taking the number two spot on our list of the best tunes on One Thing At A Time.
1. “Thought You Should Know”
Last but certainly not least, “Thought You Should Know” is a Morgan Wallen song that makes me cry every time I listen to it. Co-written with Miranda Lambert and Nicolle Galyon — and featuring slide guitar and acoustic guitar throughout the tune — the song shares an emotional phone call with his mother, telling her just how much she means to him, even though he used to take her for granted. It is essentially a thank you letter for her love and support over the years, explaining that while his controversial choices have concerned her in the past, he is a changed man. Straying away from his typical love, heartbreak, and beer-slinging songs, “Thought You Should Know” is truly one-of-a-kind for Wallen, topping our ranking of One Thing At A Time.
To check out these tunes and so many more, country music lovers can check out Morgan Wallen and all of his smash hits — as well as some of his deeper cuts — on their favorite music streaming service as we speak.