Why is it that country artists write some of the best songs about anger? For those days when you’re just in a bad mood, here are our 10 favorite angry country songs, including great songs from George Jones, Dixie Chicks, Miranda Lambert and other awesome artists. Most of these are country songs about being angry at your boyfriend or girlfriend, but a few are just about anger in general. What’s the best country song about being mad or upset? A lot of these are country songs with angry in the title, but others like Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” don’t have it.
We know we had to leave some classics off the list since it was only 10, so let us know in the comments if you have a favorite that’s not already on the list. The beauty of this list is it has angry country songs for girls as well as guys, so both sexes can find something they can relate to here.
1. Tim McGraw- Angry All the Time
From his 2001 album Set This Circus Down, “Angry All the Time” by Tim McGraw is actually a cover of Bruce Robinson, who originally recorded the song on his 1998 album Wrapped. McGraw delivers an emotional ballad about a relationship that is falling apart- “You ain’t the only one / Who feels like this world left you far behind / I don’t know why you gotta be / angry all the time.”
2. George Jones- I Just Don’t Give a Damn
Released on George Jones’ 1975 album Memories of Us, “I Just Don’t Give a Damn” is a song about someone who is fed up with trying to meet other people’s expectations. The narrator of the song is angry at his partner, even though he knows he still loves her- “Tomorrow my arms may ache and want to hold you / Oh, but tonight I just don’t give a damn.”
3. Carrie Underwood- Before He Cheats
To say “Before He Cheats” was a huge hit for Carrie Underwood would be an understatement. The song, which is about getting revenge on a boyfriend for cheating by smashing his car with a baseball bat, earned her a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. It’s the perfect angry girl country song to get you fired up when your man takes advantage of your kindness.
4. Miranda Lambert- Kerosene
From her 2005 album of the same name, Miranda Lambert’s “Kerosene” is one of the most popular angry country songs for girls. The narrator of the song is fed up with trying to look for love, most likely due to a recent recent breakup- “Well I’m giving up on love ’cause love’s given up on me.”
5. Aaron Tippin- Kiss This
Released on his 2000 album People Like Us, “Kiss This” by Aaron Tippin is a song where the events play out through the eyes of a bartender at a local bar. In the beginning of the song he’s serving a girl drinks, who is drowning her sorrows because she was cheated on. A moment later the cheating man comes to apologize, and she chews him out in a major way. The “kiss this” refers to the woman telling the man to kiss her butt goodbye, because they are obviously though.
6. Toby Keith- Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American)
Back in 2002, Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American)” was about as hot as a country song can get. Inspired by the death of his father and the 9/11 attacks in New York, Keith says that the song was written in 20 minutes. Although he originally only performed the song for the troops, he eventually released it on his 2002 album Unleashed after a member of the military told him that it was his duty to let other armed forces hear the song.
7. Sammy Kershaw- Matches
“Matches” by Sammy Kershaw is a dark song about a relationship gone wrong. The narrator of the song meets a woman at a bar, where she gives him her number on a matchbook. They eventually become lovers, but one night he returns home to find she has left and taken everything- leaving only the matchbook behind. In the end the man ends up burning down the home, thanking her for leaving the matches.
8. Terri Clark - I Just Wanna Be Mad
From her fifth studio album Pain to Kill, “I Just Wanna Be Mad” is about the trivial arguments you have with your partner after being together for a long time. The narrator of the song knows that she’ll forgive her partner in the end, and expresses that sometimes she just wants to be mad- “Please don’t make me smile / I just want to be mad for awhile.”
9. Sugarland- It Happens
“It Happens” admittedly isn’t the angriest country song on this list, but it the lyrics do express a frustration with the day to day things that go wrong such as sleeping in late and not being able to drink coffee- “Rolled in late about an hour / No cup of coffee, no shower / Walk of shame with two different shoes on.” I guess you could say this is more of a country song about frustrated.
10. Dixie Chicks- Not Read to Make Nice
Released on their seventh studio album Taking the Long Way, “Not Ready to Make Nice” was a song about the 2003 controversy surrounding Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines’ negative comments about President Bush. The song emphasizes their statement rather than apologize for it, and was universally loved by music fans everywhere.
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