In a prior post we submitted what we think are the top movies and movie scenes that feature lawn mowers and mowing. Now, we fire up some songs to listen to while we’re out in the yard. There’s no prerequisite to get on the list, but these songs have high energy, a good groove, or an interesting lyric. They are in no particular order.
Depending on your taste in music and your preferences, you could come up with more than enough songs to last an entire season of mowing. The list here will most certainly change the moment our mood changes, but see if any of these songs are in your playlist:
Tom Petty’s “Runnin’ Down a Dream”
An iconic opening guitar lick, followed by a lyric that makes you grateful you’re outside.
It was a beautiful day, the sun beat down
I had the radio on, I was drivin’
Trees flew by, me and Del were singin’ little Runaway
I was flyin’
Sure, he’s in a car, but he just as easily could have been describing being out on his riding mower at full throttle. Anyway, it’s a great song to listen to while mowing.
(You can’t go wrong with pretty much any Tom Petty song. American Girl, for example, could just as easily go on this list.)
Def Leppard’s “Photograph”
Speaking of memorable guitar openings…
Johnny Cash’s “Green, Green Grass of Home”
This song was made popular by Porter Wagoner, but we’re partial to the version Johnny Cash did at Folsom Prison.
Kelly Clarkson’s “Breakaway”
How many of us have slapped the headphones on and started thinking while cutting the grass? The lyrics to this song might spark a solution to a problem, make you wonder about the future, consider new possibilities.
I’ll take a risk, take a chance, make a change
And breakaway
“Learn to Fly” by the Foo Fighters
Play this one when you don’t care if the neighbors hear you singing along.
Run and tell the angels that everything’s all right
Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl”
A vintage sing-along song.
Jackson Browne’s “Take It Easy,” Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide”
Three songs to listen to if you’re in no particular hurry to get the yard done.
“Tom Sawyer” by Rush
You can’t have a lawn mowing playlist without at least one air drums song. If Neil Peart were still with us, he’d recommend that you not play this song while steering a zero-turn.
Bob Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues”
Barely a two minute song. No problem, put it on repeat and play it a few times.
“Sucker for Pain” by Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, and Imagine Dragons
A beat to cut a straight line.
“The Lawnmower Song”
You’ve got to have at least one song with a title like this. Find this instrumental on the Narada Guitar 2 compilation on Spotify.
“Who’s Gonna Mow Your Grass” by Buck Owens
Who’s gonna be your puppy dog
When I’m a thing of the past?
Hey, who’s gonna mow your grass?
Okay, that’s enough for now. What are your favorites?