11 CRANKIN Songs for 4/20!!!

It's that magical day of the year that for whatever reason has become associated with smoking pot. While we would never condone any illegal activity, we do have a couple of songs that will get you in the Holidaze spirit!

11. It's All Going to Pot - Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard

What a better way to start off our countdown than a song by two outlaws about smoking weed because why the hell not? With lyrics like, "Best I can tell, the world's gone to hell and we're all gonna miss it a lot" sung by two guys who have lived some LIFE between the two of them, this is a song about just getting high as something to do.

10. I Must Be High - Wilco

Wilco's 1995 debut album AM is alt-country at it's absolute finest! Formed by Jeff Tweedy after the split of Uncle Tupelo, this record is filled twangy guitar licks and spill-your-heart-out lyrics. The opening track "I Must Be High" is sprinkled with just the right amount of remorse and dry humor to make this a must-CRANK song!

9. You Don't Know How It Feels - Tom Petty

While everyone likes to think of "Mary Jane's Last Dance" as Tom Petty's signature stoner song, this is one that shouldn't be left out of the conversation. Tom Petty in a laid-back groove, crooning poetically about his day-to-day life. And that signature pre-chorus line, "Let's get to the point, let's roll another joint" makes this an iconic Mary Jane inspired tune.

8. Wacky Tobaccy - Toby Keith ft. Willie Nelson

Hailing as the lead single from his album The Bus Songs, an album that specifically aims to capture the laid back jams of a tour bus, Wacky Tobaccy is exactly what you think it would be. A fun, silly song about smoking that wacky tobaccy! Also, I don't know that Willie Nelson actually recorded on this song or if he just smokes and parties in the video, but one can hope.

7. Might As Well Get Stoned - Chris Stapleton

Chris Stapleton is easily recognizable for his multiple radio hits. This song is not one of them. But it should be! This song has a lazy, bluesy jam feel to it, and Chris Stapleton belts his heart out about getting stoned just to make things a little more interesting! Complete with some wailing guitar solos, this song will take you where you need to be!

6. Slow Burn - Kacey Musgraves

Dare I say, my favorite song from the new Kacey record. In this opening track from Golden Hour, you can immediately tell Kacey's musical tastes have grown and developed. In this song, Kacey takes the position of the introspective stoner, noticing all of the beautiful intricacies of the world around her as time passes. It is sublimely peaceful and magical.

5. To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High) - Ryan Adams

Hailing from Raleigh, North Carolina, Ryan Adams is never one to shy away from his country boy roots. The first track of music on his debut record (I say this because the first technical track is a recording argument between him and a friend), Ryan comes slinging some old school style country music with just enough punky attitude in his delivery. As the title suggests, this song is about the endless cycle of being young and in love, being high, being sad, being young and out of love, and then being high again. Worth a listen!

4. Illegal Smile - John Prine

I didn't know that this song was about weed for the longest time. Then one day I realized, "Oh wait, an illegal smile. Getting high is illegal! An illegal smile, WOW!" This song is filled with absurd lyrics like "A bowl of oatmeal tried to stare me down, and won" and "Well done, hot dog bun, my sisters a nun". But as always with John Prine, he knows how to say a lot with a little. Notable in the music, when the song enters the chorus, it switches from an abrasive finger-picking style in the chorus to a waltzy three/four time signature to emphasize the calming effect that Prine has gotten from his illegal smile. GENIUS!

3. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 - Bob Dylan

While some weed enthusiasts like to sing with subtlety on the subject, Bob Dylan throws all of the mystery out of the equation with the repetition of the party-time refrain "Everybody Must Get Stoned". The music is wakcy, sloppy and all over the place. Dylan's lyrical delivery is constantly out of rhythm. But somehow still, the song can only be described as perfection.

2. One Toke Over the Line - Brewer & Shipley

Sung without any cares in the world, "One Toke Over the Line" is about something that stoners are very familiar. Getting stoned and waiting on life to happen for them. With upbeat riffs and a stupidly catchy melody, this the perfect song for driving around with nowhere to go and being completely okay with it.

1. Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die - Willie Nelson

If anyone could ever be considered the Godfather of Weed, I think it would have to be Willie Nelson. In the words of Snoop Dogg, "Willie Nelson the only person that ever outsmoke Snoop Dogg". And yes, Snoop referred (or reefered, lol) to himself in the third person there. Smoking weed likely every day probably close to seven decades, Willie is the GOAT. Released on 4/20 and Record Store Day, "Roll Me Up" was an instant classic and perfect mantra for the 'Redheaded Stranger".

Happy Holidaze everybody! Be safe out there!