Best Country folk songs

John Denver’s songs reached the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles, U.S. Billboard Hot 100, U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary and U.S. Billboard Easy Listening charts. Denver’s success in the 1970s has been compared to Frank Sinatra’s success in the 1950s and Elvis Presley’s success in the 1960s. John Denver’s life may have ended at the age of 53, but his legacy of music lives on. What are the five best John Denver song lyrics or verses?

5. “Sunshine on My Shoulders”: A number one hit on the U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, John Denver included “Sunshine on My Shoulders" on his 1971 album Poems, Prayers & Promises. He later released as a single in 1973. “Sunshine on my Shoulders” entered the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 90. Nine weeks later “Sunshine on My Shoulders was in the number one spot. The best verse of the song is, "If I had a tale that I could tell you I'd tell a tale sure to make you smile. If I had a wish that I could wish for you I'd make a wish for sunshine for all the while. Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy. Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry."

4. “Take Me Home, Country Roads”: One of the most beloved songs, “Take Me Home, Country Roads” was written by John Denver, Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert and included on the 1971 album The single reached the number two spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. The best verse of the song is, "All my memories gathered 'round her. Miner's lady, stranger to blue water. Dark and dusty, painted on the sky. Misty taste of moonshine. Teardrops in my eye. Country roads, take me home to the place I belong. West Virginia, mountain momma. Take me home, country roads."

3. “Thank God I’m a Country Boy”: Included on the 1975 album Back Home Again the live version of “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” was released as the single. The live version was recorded at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles on Aug. 26, 1974. This version was released on the 1975 album An Evening with John Denver. The live version was both a country and pop hit, claiming the number one spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles and U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts. The best verse of the song is, "I wouldn't trade my life for diamonds or jewels. I never was one of them money hungry fools. I'd rather have my fiddle and my farming tools, thank God I'm a country boy."

2. “Leaving on a Jet Plane”: The song was written in 1966 by John Denver, but recorded by the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary for their 1969 album Album 1700 and it was their final number one hit. John Denver decided to also record the song in 1969.The working title of the song was “Babe, I Hate to Go, ” which John hated. Included on his 1969 debut album Rhymes and Reasons, “Leaving on a Jet Plane” was one of the most recognizable songs of John Denver’s career, the first of several hit songs for the boy from New Mexico. The best verse of the song is, "All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go. I'm standin' here outside your door. I hate to wake you up to say goodbye. But the dawn is breakin', it's early morn. The taxi's waitin', he's blowin' his horn. Already I'm so lonesome I could die."

1. “Annie’s Song”: John Denver’s signature song, “Annie’s Song” was written for his then wife. It was released as a single on the 1974 album Back Home Again making it John Denver’s second number one song on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. “Annie’s Song” also reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Easy Listening chart, “Annie’s Song” crossed over and was a number nine hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. The best verse of the song is, "You fill up my senses like a night in the forest. Like the mountains in springtime, like a walk in the rain, like a storm in the desert, like a sleepy blue ocean. You fill up my senses, come fill me again."