36 songs that have the word 'Tucson' in them
- Samantha Munsey and Johanna Eubank
- Updated
Dozens of musicians have given the Old Pueblo a special shout-out in their songs and we have compiled a list of some you may have heard before.
Maybe they were inspired by Tucson's vibe, or maybe they needed a word that rhymed with "boots on." Either way, these 31 songs that have the word "Tucson" in them are good enough to make a cactus sway.
Tucson Too Late - Jordan Davis
UpdatedJordan Davis performs his song "Tucson Too Late" live from Jimmy Kimmel.
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Music video by Jordan Davis performing Tucson Too Late (Live From Jimmy Kimmel Live!). An MCA Nashville Production; © 2023 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lyrics: "And heaven knows I let her slip away / I showеd up and she's gone / Guess I got to Tucson too latе"
Release date: February 17, 2023
Happy Does ─ Kenny Chesney
UpdatedKenny Chesney - Happy Does (Audio)
Kenny ChesneyLyric: "Some find it in the scripture or a Polaroid picture / Or flip a coin, heads, you're goin' to Tucson, Arizona"
Release date: 2020
Fun fact: The song was written by Brad Clawson, Brock Berryhill, Greylan James and Jamie Paulin. Chesney said the first time he heard it, it made him smile.
You Can Sleep While I Drive ─ Melissa Etheridge
UpdatedMusic video by Melissa Etheridge performing You Can Sleep While I Drive. (C) 2001 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Melissa EtheridgeLyric: "We'll go through Tucson up to Santa Fe"
Release date: 1990
The Seashores of Old Mexico ─ George Strait
UpdatedMusic video by George Strait performing The Seashores Of Old Mexico. (C) 2006 MCA Nashville, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
George StraitLyric: "I left out of Tucson with no destination in mind"
Release date: Feb. 13, 2006
Fun fact: The song was written by Merle Haggard and first recorded by Hank Snow in 1971. Strait took it to #11 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
God Love Her ─ Toby Keith
UpdatedLyric: "She called from a truck stop / In Tucson, Arizona / With amazing grace..."
Release date: November 2008
Fun fact: The song is a moderate up-tempo song accompanied by electric guitar. It describes the love for a preacher's daughter.
Goin' Back to Tucson ─ Supersuckers
UpdatedProvided to YouTube by Entertainment One Distribution US
Goin' Back To Tucson · The Supersuckers
The Evil Powers Of Rock 'n' Roll
℗ KOCH RECORDS
Released on: 1999-11-16
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Entertainment One Distribution USLyric: "Going back to Tucson, Going back to where things went wrong..."
Release date: 1999
Fun fact: The song is from the album, "The evil Powers of Rock 'n' Roll"
Tucson Train ─ Bruce Springsteen
UpdatedLyric: "Just to show her a man can change / Now my baby's coming in on the Tucson train."
Release date: May 30, 2019
Fun fact: The song is on his new album "Western Stars," which comes out on June 14, 2019.
Closer — The Chainsmokers (feat. Hasley)
UpdatedLyric: "Stay, and play that Blink-182 song/That we beat to death in Tucson, OK"
Release date: July 29, 2016
Fun fact: This song was inspired by the Blink-182's 2004 hit "Miss You." We may have just solved the mystery about what Blink song was overplayed on their tour bus in Tucson.
Must Be Losing My Mind — Brett Dennen
UpdatedProvided to YouTube by Entertainment One U.S., LP
Must Be Losing My Mind · Brett Dennen
Loverboy
℗ Dualtone Music Group
Released on: 2011-04-12
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Brett DennenLyric: "Burned out in the lawn in Tucson, Arizona/With the scavengers on 4th Avenue"
Release year: 2011
Fun Fact: Brett Dennen is an American pop/folk singer who loads up a lot of modern day Tucson references in this song.
Wouldn't Wanna Be Ya — Toby Keith
UpdatedLyric: "I made it out to Tucson where I turned my truck around/I started barreling down that highway boy, back to that Texas town"
Release year: 2007
Fun Fact: The singer had some Tucson roots momentarily when a "Toby Keith's I Love This Bar and Grill" opened in the Tucson Mall on New Year's Eve, 2012. He then turned "back to that Texas town" when the restaurant closed about 14 months later.
Road to Gila Bend — Los Lobos
UpdatedLyric: "Got to Tucson in the dark/Keeping an eye out for the law/Five hundred miles or more from a broken heart"
Release year: 2006
Fun fact: Can't get enough Los Lobos? The band runs a "Classic Live Lobos" section on their website where you can watch past performances.
Hows about tellin' a story? — Devendra Banheart
UpdatedLyric: "Mansonite and the Wolfman, Katmandu, and Honest Abe/Something happens up in Tucson and then it happens again in Maine"
Release year: 2005
Fun Fact: Singer Devendra Banheart was raised for most of his childhood in Venezuela before moving to Los Angeles with his mother and stepfather at the age of 14.
Idiot Summer — Gin Blossoms
UpdatedLyric: "There's no telling I was so confused/I try but I can't help you choose/Tucson is so far away"
Release year: 1989
Fun fact: This song was part of the Wayne's World 2 soundtrack. Party on!
Under African Skies — Paul Simon
UpdatedLyric: "I said take this child, Lord, From Tucson Arizona/Give her the wings to fly through harmony/And she won't bother you no more"
Release date: August 1987
Fun Fact: Part of the song was written for Linda Ronstadt — about her life growing up in Tucson. She also contributes to the backing vocals.
Thumbelina — The Pretenders
UpdatedLyric: "Hush little baby, don't you cry/When we get to Tucson you'll see why/ We left the snowstorms and the thunder and rain/For the desert sun, we're gonna be born again"
Release year: 1984
Not so fun fact: The song is featured in The Pretenders' third studio album, "Learning to Crawl," which was produced after two of the band's four original members died from drug overdoses.
Leila — ZZ Top
UpdatedLyric: "I begged her not to go away/She left my ex best friend out in old Tucson/Told me she was leavin' and would be rollin on."
Release year: 1981
Fun Fact: The band has appeared on a few television shows over their 40+ years in the business, including hosting an episode of WWE Raw.
It Ain't All Bad — Charley Pride
UpdatedLyric: "I picked last night in Tucson I sang 'em a country song/Missed my plane this morning Lord cause we parted all night long"
Release date: March 1975
Fun Fact: Pride has been part-owner of the Texas Rangers since 2010. At 82, he also takes time off to work out with the team at their spring training facility in Surprise.
Willin' — Linda Ronstadt
UpdatedLyric: "And I've been from Tucson to Tucumcari, Tehachapi to Tonopah/Driven every kind of rig that's ever been made"
Release year: 1974
Fun fact: The song was originally written and performed by the American rock band, Little Feat. Ronstadt is a native to Tucson, so it's seems pretty fitting she has her own rendition of the song.
Check out this Ronstadt throwback from the Arizona Daily Star's archive.
Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Poneys at Minus One Coffeehouse on 6th Street Nov. 24, 1966.
Mark Godfrey / Tucson CitizenHere's what her band, The Stone Poneys, has to say about their sound in 1966: "It's folk music because we're folks and it's our music."
Seashores of Old Mexico — Merle Haggard
UpdatedLyric: "We left out of Tucson with no destination in mind/We were runnin' from trouble and the jail-term the Judge had in mind"
Release year: 1974
Fun fact: There is a duet version of the song featuring Haggard and Willie Nelson. In fact they recorded a whole album together titled "Seashores of Old Mexico."
Get Back — The Beatles
UpdatedLyric: "Jojo left his home in Tucson, Arizona for some California grass"
Release date: April 11, 1969
Fun fact: When released as a single as part of the Beatles' final studio album "Let it Be," the song hit number one in the U.S. and international charts.
Bonus fact: Paul McCartney's first wife, Linda, studied at the University of Arizona in Fine Arts. They married in 1969, the same year "Get Back" was recorded. The couple bought ranch property in Tucson in 1979 and lived here for several years until Linda's death in 1998.
The Ballad of Boothill — Johnny Cash
UpdatedLyric: "Out in Arizona just south of Tucson/Where tumbleweeds tumble in search of a home/There's a town they call Tombstone where the brave never cry"
Release year: 1959
Fun fact: This song is more about Tombstone than it is about Tucson. But hey, it's Johnny Cash singing about the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral, so we'll deal.
Sister's Keeper ─ Pure Prairie League
UpdatedRelevant Lyrics: Tucson Arizona... Casa Grandes over my shoulder / And these evenin' feelin's come so strong
Release Year: 1975
Jack Straw ─ Grateful Dead
UpdatedRelevant lyrics: Half a mile from Tucson / By the morning light / One man gone and another to go / My old buddy you're moving much too slow
Release year: 1972
Lights of Tucson ─ Jim Campbell
UpdatedSample lyrics: Gotta see the lights of Tucson / Gotta pack, come on, get a move on / Gotta see the lights of Tucson / Ain't coming back / Wheels, get a move on
Release year: 1970
Send Me Down to Tucson ─ Mel Tillis
UpdatedSample lyrics: No one wants to go down to Tucson in the summer / So this time the boss chose me
…
Go on and send me down to Tucson and I'll get the job done
Release year: 1979
Della and the Dealer ─ Hoyt Axton
UpdatedRelevant lyrics: Down Tucson way there's a small café / Where they play a little cowboy tune.
Release year: 1979
Americano ─ Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers
UpdatedRelevant lyrics: All roads lead back to Tucson / Pray, Maria I don't find the noose on
Release year: 2004
Vienna Calling ─ Falco
UpdatedRelevant lyrics: Womit spielen kleine Mädchen heute, hier und dort und da, (What do little girls play today, here and there and there,) Und in (And in) Tucson, Arizona; Toronto, Canada.
Release year: 1985
Ghetto Cowboy ─ Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
UpdatedRelevant lyrics: These directions say we go to Tucson, Arizona / When we arrive we'll cop a place we can bunk
Release year: 1998
Painted Desert ─ 10,000 Maniacs
UpdatedRelevant lyrics: I wanted to be there by May at the latest time. Isn't that the plan we had or have you changed your mind? I haven't read a word from you since Phoenix or Tucson. April is over will you tell me how long before I can be there?
Release year: 1987
Tucson, Arizona (Gazette) ─ Dan Fogelberg
UpdatedSample lyrics: Tucson, Arizona / Rising in the heat like a / Mirage / Tony keeps his Chevy / Like a virgin locked in / His garage
Release year: 1984
Tucson Too Soon ─ Tracy Byrd
UpdatedSample lyrics: Tonight on a plane bound for Dallas / I see the bright lights of Tucson below / Shining on all of the memories / I thought I'd finally let go
…
For leavin' Tucson too soon / At the time it was something that I just had to do / But tonight face to face with that old desert moon / It seems I left Tucson too soon
Release year: 1996
Halls ─ Andrew McMahon
Updated“Halls” from the self-titled Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness album - stream & download: https://andrewmcmahon.lnk.to/andrewmcmahoninthewildernessdeluxe
Upcoming tour dates: https://www.andrewmcmahon.com/tour/
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LYRICS
Pouring rain in Tucson, Arizona
Checked into the Congress Hotel
Met the band in a bar next to the lobby
Looking for another story I could tell
When I left town we were headed for the altar
And I told you I’d be back before too long
Cut my hair, and I found me a new girlfriend
Thought a broken heart could write a perfect song
And it did, and I was right, so now you’re gone
You echo in the halls
I feel your shadow on this empty stage
I hear your music through the walls
I see your picture on the blank page
Oh, you echo in the halls
Played the show, left another message
Booked a ticket for tomorrow in Tempe
3 a.m., doing cartwheels down the hallway
I’ve been drinking since the day I set you free
But on this airport morning will you wait for me?
Lyric: "Pourin' rain in Tucson, Arizona, checked into the Congress Hotel"
Release date: October 14, 2014
Old Black Dawning - Frank Black
UpdatedStereo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUFFzn3qP1A&fmt=18
Lyrics
I hung around
On the planet Mabel
She tried to stand
But she was not able
She tried to find the truth
She tried to colonize space
She only had a few
But it was a good race
Old Black Dawning is coming on
Old Black Dawning is coming on
Old Black Dawning
Old Black Dawning
I'm always happy to
Go down to old Tucson
After you had your fun
It's time to move on
I've got a favorite story
About the Tower of Babel
Some say it's true
And some say it's a fable
Old Black Dawning is coming on
Old Black Dawning is coming on
Old Black Dawning
Old Black Dawning
Lyric: "I'm always happy to go down to old Tucson"
Release date: March 8, 1993
American Nights - Chase Rice
UpdatedBeen teasing this one for a while, here it is! https://ChaseRice.lnk.to/TheAlbumPT1
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LYRICS:
HE WAS 18 AND WASTED
BEDROOM IN THE BASEMENT
PARENTS HOUSE TUCSON ARIZONA
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA
WORKIN HOURS IN THE SHOE STORE
SELLING DIMES OUT THE BACK DOOR
AND HE PUTS ON HIS PROM CROWN
SAYS TO HIS MOMMA I’M THE KING OF THIS TOWN
WON’T YOU TAKE ME OUT
I HEAR THE MIDNIGHT STREETS A CALLIN
YOU CAN HOLD ME DOWN BUT LIKE A BIRD I’M JUST FREE FALLIN
HERE’S TO THESE AMERICAN NIGHTS
WE’RE HAVING THE TIME OF OUR LIVES
LIVIN, DREAMIN’ FEELIN’ NEVER SLEEPING TILL WE SEE THE MORNING LIGHT
ON THESE AMERICAN NIGHTS
NEIGHBORHOOD KID JUST BACK FROM THE DESERT
TATTOO AND A DISCHARGE LETTER
VA IN THE ST JOHN.
6 TIMES A WEEK HE STILL SLEEPS WITH HIS BOOTS ON
SHE SKIPPED TRACK UP TO BROOKLYN
WITH A DREAM AND SOME TAN SKIN
GRAVEYARD AT THE RHINO THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE THE STARS SHINING YOU KNOW
WON’T YOU TAKE ME OUT
I HEAR THE MIDNIGHT STREETS A CALLIN
YOU CAN HOLD ME DOWN BUT LIKE A BIRD I’M JUST FREE FALLIN
HERE’S TO THESE AMERICAN NIGHTS
WE’RE HAVING THE TIME OF OUR LIVES
LIVIN, DREAMIN’ FEELIN’ NEVER SLEEPING TILL WE SEE THE MORNING LIGHT
ON THESE AMERICAN NIGHTS
SKY’S BLACK IN NOVEMBER
AND NOTHING GOOD LASTS FOREVER
12 GAUGE HEART IN A MACHINEGUN TOWN
WHOLE LIFE RUNNIN YOU CAN’T STOP NOW
HERE’S TO THESE AMERICAN NIGHTS
WE’RE HAVING THE TIME OF OUR LIVES
LIVIN, ON A FEELIN’ GOTTA FEELIN’ THAT ITS GONNA BE ALRIGHT
ON THESE AMERICAN NIGHTS
ON THESE AMERICAN NIGHTS
#AmericanNights #ChaseRice #TheAlbumPtI
Lyrics: "He was 18 and wasted / Bedroom in the basement / Parents' house in Tucson, Arizona"
Release date: January 24, 2020
Beer Taste Good - Casey Donahew
Updated"Beer Taste Good" live performance from Casey Donahew's #coronahappyhour May 7, 2020
video: Zack Morris
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Lyrics: "Caught a bus out to Tucson, I wish diesel was free"
Release date: March 25, 2022
Johanna Eubank
Online producer
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