Flowers are frequently featured in songs, serving both as metaphors and to describe a situation. They can also serve as an inspiration, with many songs celebrating nature’s beauty and strength.
Country music has a long-standing tradition of songs about wildflowers, often used to symbolize personal growth and strength. Here we’ve curated our favorite tunes featuring these delicate blooms.
1. Sugar Magnolia by the Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead are renowned for their eclectic musical style. This can be observed in their use of many song writers and composers throughout its career.
The group toured extensively around the globe, performing concerts until Jerry Garcia’s passing in 1995. Furthermore, they amassed an extensive library of songs which remain beloved to this day.
“Sugar Magnolia” is one of the most beloved Grateful Dead songs to date. Featuring Bob Weir on lead vocals, it has become a timeless classic for fans to enjoy.
The song’s title is taken from a rose featured on the front cover of American Beauty, 1971’s album. This symbolism symbolizes hope and optimism.
2. Ed Sheeran’s “Supermarket Flowers”
Allie Sherlock, 13 years old and known for her incredible talent, has taken Ed Sheeran’s “Supermarket Flowers” to new heights with her stunning cover rendition. Her sincere interpretation has won over thousands of admirers online.
Sheeran’s emotive third album / (Divide) featured this poignant track, and during his 2018 Brit Awards performance at the stadium he performed it with raw emotion.
Sheeran’s version of the song, featuring clever use of piano and guitar, has become one of his biggest hits. If you’re a fan of his, be sure to check out his other albums too! He recently announced his sixth record titled ‘Subtract’ will be released in May 2023 and features collaborations from Pharrell Williams and Rudimental.
3. “Edelweiss” by The Sound of Music
The song “Edelweiss” from The Sound of Music is an iconic example of a musical that celebrates wildflowers. This simple tune tells of how this delicate flower grows high up in Northern Europe’s mountains and has become known for its strength in adverse conditions.
It is also a symbol of love and strength. In the film, Captain Georg von Trapp sings this song with his family as an act of patriotism in spite of Nazi annexation of Austria.
Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II composed this song, inspired by a scene in Gretl’s Awakening when she presents Baroness Elsa Schrader with an arrangement of Edelweiss flowers.
4. “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” by Lainey Wilson
Lainey Wilson is an accomplished American country singer-songwriter who has achieved great success in the industry. She began performing when she was young, eventually moving to Nashville to pursue a career in music.
Louisiana native Jennifer Wargo is renowned for her honest lyrics and powerful vocal performances. Her unique blend of country, rock, and blues has won her a dedicated following.
Lainey Wilson was raised in Baskin, Louisiana and holds strong family values that she hopes her music reflects. She draws inspiration from artists such as Dolly Parton, Lee Ann Womack, and Sara Evans for her style of music.
5. “Wild Flower” by RM
On December 2, RM, the main rapper and leader of BTS, will release his first solo album. Along with it, his title track “Wild Flower,” featuring South Korean rock singer youjeen, will also be released alongside the album.
This 10-track solo project is a multilingual compilation that blends rap verses, urban and folk tunes. It explores RM’s experiences with fame as well as his struggles with identity and the desire for reinvention.
This song marks the third solo project released this year by a member of BTS; J-Hope and Jin recently released their respective solo projects Jack in the Box and The Astronaut, respectively.
6. “Sunflower” by Post Malone and Swae Lee
On “Sunflower,” Post Malone teams up with Swae Lee of Rae Sremmurd for a duet that will be featured on the soundtrack for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Additionally, this single is taken from Malone’s 2019 album Hollywood’s Bleeding.
Their lyrics portray a woman who is “so beautiful and strong.” But she also requires a great deal of attention from her lover. She may not feel ready for such an engagement, or may feel tempted to run away when things start going awry.
Post Malone has some good news to share: his “Sunflower” has officially become the highest-certified single in RIAA history, surpassing Halsey’s “Without Me.” Check out the picture below of Post and Swae Lee proudly holding their 17x-Platinum plaque from RIAA.
7. “Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses” by Kathy Mattea
The iconic Kathy Mattea song “Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses” from 1988 has endured through the decades, telling the tale of an elderly trucker who is retiring after 30 years on the road and spending his last days with his beloved spouse.
She is an American country singer-bluegrass performer who has been active since 1984 and charted more than thirty singles on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Four of her hits reached No. 1 (Goin’ Gone, Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses, Come from the Heart, and Burnin’ Old Memories), plus twelve others that made the top ten.
She is renowned for her activism and support of AIDS causes, becoming “Nashville’s conscience on AIDS” after losing three friends to the disease during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
8. “Wildflower” by 5 Seconds of Summer
Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer recently released “Wildflower,” their fourth studio album Calm’s latest single. This tune combines nostalgic 80’s touches with energetic rhythms fans have come to expect from them.
It is also accompanied by a stop-motion lyric video, featuring multiple flowers that move along with the lyrics. This took over 18 hours to craft and utilized 358 different photos.
This track is part of a four-track collection the band is sharing via Calm, the popular meditation app which has assisted artists such as Sam Smith and Sabrina Carpenter in releasing new music. Plus, the group will be taking the track on tour later this year.
9. “Wildflowers” by Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris
On October 16th, Warner Records will release Tom Petty’s Wildflowers & All The Rest, a comprehensive compilation of his 1994 album co-produced by Rick Rubin and Mike Campbell. This set includes previously unreleased songs, demos and live performances.
Tom Petty’s family, bandmates and collaborators helped uncover these previously unreleased tracks. Curated by Tom’s daughters Adria and Annakim with Dana Petty as curator, the collection is now available on CD and LP in multiple formats.
The basic two-CD/3-LP set contains 25 songs, including five previously unreleased tracks. A Super Deluxe Edition adds the Finding Wildflowers disc with 16 studio recordings of alternate takes from the original sessions which Petty, band members and producer Rick Rubin worked on during recording of the album. Furthermore, you’ll get an 80-page hardbound book replicating “Dogs With Wings” tour program, handwritten 4-song lyric reprints in vellum envelope plus a (numbered) Certificate of Authenticity for added authenticity.
10. “Wildflowers” by The Wailin’ Jennys
The Wailin’ Jennys have a unique ability to craft songs that feel both timeless and contemporary. Their 15th anniversary album, Fifteen, marks their 15th year together and includes an exclusive cover of Tom Petty’s “Wildflowers,” available now (pre-order here).
The Canadian trio consisting of vocalists Ruth Moody, Nicky Mehta and Heather Masse has a diverse background that encompasses folk, bluegrass and jazz styles.
Ruth Moody is a soprano singer who first performed with Juno-nominated roots band Scruj MacDuhk before embarking on her solo career. She’s been featured on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion and released her first full-length solo LP The Garden in 2010 through Red House Records.