Its Friday afternoon, (in my case) around 3:30, and the final school bell rings. You run out to your car, roll down the windows, plug in the auxiliary cord and its time to jam on the ride home and get ready for some of the most unforgettable nights of high school. Country music is the first thing I think of when I remember the flashy bright lights of Friday night football. Here is a playlist that I hope will help you reminisce on some of the best times of our lives.
Of course “Boys of Fall,” by Kenny Chesney is first on the list. Every lyric gives me the chills, but the beginning really stands out, “When I feel that chill, smell that fresh cut grass/ I’m back in my helmet, cleats, and shoulder pads/ Standin’ in the huddle listenin’ to the call/ Fans goin’ crazy for the boys of fall.” I am sure everyone remembers either being on the field, or supporting your team to victory. The end truly encompasses the aspect of team when it says, “You mess with one man, you got us all/ The boys of fall.” Coming from a high school where our athletic teams were such a big deal, this song takes me back to the track where we stood in our cowboy boots and football jerseys watching our friends out on the field. This is the song that most likely was played in a graduation video that immediately brought tears.
“Fireworks” by Hudson Moore is a song that really hits home. This song is one that would be played at max volume the whole way home. Coming from Fort Worth as well, Hudson Moore does a great job in honoring Fort Worth high school football. “football/game on a Friday night/ the whole town came just to watch us fight/ i’ll never forget the last game we played/ they turned out the lights but everybody stayed.” This song gives an image of the whole school celebrating a win.
“Red Dirt Road” by Brooks & Dunn. This song highlights some of the memories of high school for example, “It’s where I drank my first beer/ It’s where I found Jesus/ Where I wrecked my first car/ I tore it all to pieces.” Although this song doesn’t directly mention high school football, it brings us all back to the memories of those crazy and unforgettable four years.
“If I Could Do it Again” by Corey Smith is another song that instantly makes us nostalgic. This song contains many lyrics that eventually become senior quotes and words to remember when you are in the middle of high school. It says, “If I could do it again/I’d do it the same/ Not one regret/ I wouldn’t change a thing.” This song is all about living with no regrets and making the best of the time we have.
“Friday Night” by Eric Pasley is a song about finding that high school first love and wanting to be that Friday night that everyone looks forward to. “I wanna be your Friday night sweet ride/Summertime sunshine barefoot in the moonlight/ I wanna be your jackpot hot spot/Wide open road in a candy apple rag top/I wanna set you free, I wanna take you high/I wanna be, wanna be your Friday night/ Oh your Friday night.” It makes me think of that high school boyfriend and looking forward to getting to be around them at the football games Friday night.
So if you are ever in the mood to roll down the windows and turn the volume on max, I hope these songs will make you think of the past and those Friday night lights.
Claudia, I enjoyed this post! I had a very similar experience in high school with Friday Night Football. Your imagery was nearly the same as mine–standing on the track in cowboy boots cheering for my football team. (Unfortunately when I was in high school my team was not all that good… but the idea of Friday Night Football was always fun anyway!) I actually went to my high school this weekend for their homecoming game and it brought back so many of those great memories that you mentioned in your article.
I just heard “The Boys of Fall” earlier for the first time in forever! That song reminds me of freshman year so clearly. My team that year was just decent that year but now looking back those times were so much more than a win or a loss. I can remember finally feeling so grown up as for that first game I was finally allowed to sit up in the right side of the stands which was where the high schoolers actually were. The middle school and elementary kids in my district played around in this little grassy on the far left of the home stands. So being able to really be in the stands was just crazy for me! Like you I was from Fort Worth so I went to a larger school but I was dating a boy from a 2A school in West Texas so I was able to go to two totally different kinds of football games in high school! As great as going to UT football games are I do still miss that Texas high school atmosphere. I do however have a sister who is a Sophomore so I still have her as an excuse to go back and get a little nostalgic over my high school days… even though they ended only two years ago. This article also makes me pretty curious how comparable out of state students high school football experiences were!? Thanks for sharing!
Now I’ve lived in the south all of my life. I definitely understand the concept of high school football and can honestly say I’ve made some amazing memories in a football stadium. These songs really do help me relive those Friday nights, trying to get front row and competing which school could cheer the loudest. It’s amazing how one game can help bring such big schools together. My class had over 600 kids, but when we all were in that stadium, it felt like family. Country music really helps tie that extra string together with football and family. I couldn’t imagine Friday nights without it.
I love this post because whenever I think of friday night football I think of country music and the songs that reminisce on high school. These songs are great and of course “Boys of Fall” will always be the most spot on. Another song that reminds me of this topic is Luke Bryan’s “We Run This Town.” He talks about the things kids do on the weekends and it reminds me of this even though he never directly talks about football. The show Friday Night Lights is something that I think most Texas high school kids can relate to or at least enjoy. I really like this topic and I think all the songs you picked are spot on.
I come from a small town right outside of San Antonio and high school football on Friday nights was were everyone was come 7:30. That was probably one of my favorite things about high school. My senior year I was apart of an organization that allowed me to travel with the team and we would always listen to country music on the bus rides to the game! When I hear the boys of fall I always think back to how much fun the games were, I definitely miss that! Great song choice, all of the songs bring back memories of high school football on Friday night!