Miller's more serious side shined brightest with this mid-tempo song about how pride comes before the fall of some marriages. He scat sang his way to his inaugural country chart-topper with this 1964 hit. Great country songs often appeal to losers, whether they've temporarily lost their cool or permanently lost a lover, but Miller tipped his hat to them in his own peculiar way. Instead of making listeners laugh, Miller chose a song that questions why we're all a little guilty of stereotyping strangers based on geography or their career choices. This sentimental ode to everyday people reveals a softer side to one of classic country music's court jesters. Not even Jerry Reed, the star behind 'Dang Me' in some alternate reality, could've nailed those nonsense syllables just right to make this near meaningless song an all-time classic. Of all of Miller's greatest songs, this one needed his vocal skills the most. In practice, he calculatedly brought surreal lyrics to mainstream country music right as the genre's serious and heartache themes made it acceptable for cosmopolitan audiences. On paper, Miller weaved together a string of down-home sayings, blended it with borderline nonsense, and called it a song. For other memorable interpretations, check out Miller's take on Bobby Russell's 'Little Green Apples,' Bill Anderson's 'Two Worlds Collide' and George Jones' 'Big Harlan Taylor.' 8. His best-loved treatment of a fellow star's song came with this recording of a Kris Kristofferson original. Like most country music legends, Miller was great at both writing original songs and interpreting others' material. Toss in the song's hyperactive feel, and it might be the best entry point to Miller's catalog for friends approaching it from a rockabilly, punk, or garage rock perspective. 'Atta Boy Girl' exemplifies the clever turns-of-phrase that make lines in Miller's songs memorable. Miller died of throat and lung cancer in 1992 when he was only 56 years old. He knew about being a 'two-pack a day man,' as sadly his real-life struggles with cigarettes caused premature death. Like his best-known peers, Miller excelled while singing what he knew firsthand.

That's not to discount the deep roots of this and other songs with the carefree, analogy-driven feel of an old-time bluegrass or string band's go-to novelty material. Miller's more whimsical standards stray far from the more serious country hits of the time. 'You Can't Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd' No classic country song round-up is complete without the train of life about a departing lover, and Miller shines on this cut from 1965. From the sound of things, Miller could've had a second career writing gentler, catchier material for Herman's Hermits. 'England Swings'Īlthough numerous Miller songs proved to be pop-accessible, this one sounds like an earnest stab at mirroring mainstream sounds beyond Nashville. The proto-Highwaymen proved money could be made by team-ups of living country music legends. The Texas country supergroup of Miller, Willie Nelson, and Ray Price made this slice of nostalgia a hit in 1982. Many of those songs also feature quirky, pop-friendly lyrics and an upbeat vibe in line with Memphis rock 'n' roll.Ĭonsider these 15 Roger Miller songs an introduction to a true artist's range, from serious interpretations of his peers' compositions to seriously hilarious tunes that made country music accessible to a broad, all-ages audience. Miller's lasting legacy, beyond his talented son Dean, remains songs that tell rich enough stories to capture country fans' imaginations. His varied talents and wholesome image made for an ideal television variety show scene-stealer.Ī household name by the '70s, Miller highlighted Disney's animated Robin Hood film with songs like 'Oo-de-Lally' as The Rooster and became the second coolest Muppet Show guest aside from Alice Cooper. After the success of his composition 'Billy Bayou,' a number one hit for Jim Reeves, 'Half a Mind' for Ernest Tubb, 'That's the Way I Feel' for Faron Young, and 'Invitation to the Blues' for Ray Price, followed a few less than eventful attempts at honky-tonk stardom.īy the mid-'60s, Miller's dominance of the country charts with Smash Records exposed his quirky lyrics, vocal range and guitar picking skills to a broad audience. Like many great talents, the Texas -born, Oklahoma-raised singer and guitarist first found success in the 1950s as one of Nashville's young songwriters-for-hire.

Roger miller