Although holidays such as Christmas have long-standing traditional music associated with them, Thanksgiving has been something of an outlier. These are songs, with links, that the hard-working men and women who deliver stuffing and gravy can add to your playlist feast.
1: Thanksgiving Song by Adam Sandler
The Happy Gilmore comedian launched his silly Thanksgiving Song on Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update back in 1992. More than 30 years later, the lines “Turkey for me, turkey for you” always bring a smile. Watch Here.
2: Thanksgiving Day by Ray Davies
“Thanks for our health. Thanks for our hearth” are lyrics that highlight a nostalgic song that garners the feeling of being thankful. Take a listen to the former Kinks frontman and add a little joy to your playlist. Watch Here.
3: Sweet Potato Pie by Ray Charles
Performed by Ray Charles, featuring James Taylor, the soulful dessert song was released on the Genius Loves Company record in 2004. Listen Here.
4: Gobble Gobble by Matthew West
West confesses that Christmas songs far outpace the football and food Thursday holiday. In an effort to add to the fixin’s, he sings an upbeat song backed by a country tune. Watch Here.
5: Turkey Chase by Bob Dylan
A fiddle-led instrumental from Bob Dylan’s twelfth studio album, Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, this lively tune doesn’t say anything about Thanksgiving. It just meanders along the long road. Listen Here.
6: Thanksgiving Prayer by Johnny Cash
“We’ve come to the time in the season. When family and friends gather near.” A moving song about family, friends, and faith, the Man in Black delivers a gratitude prayer for the masses. Listen Here.
7: Be Thankful by Natalie King
The daughter of legend Nat King Cole, she delivers an up-tempo jazzy song about being thankful. Although Be Thankful isn’t necessarily about the Pilgrims and Native Americans breaking bread, it will have you grooving in your rig. Listen Here.
8 Let’s Turkey Trot by Little Eva
An infectious toe-tapper that delivers old-school radio soul, Little Eva is widely known for her 1962 smash hit, The Loco-Motion. Travel back in time with Let’s Turkey Trot. Listen Here.
9: Thanksgiving Song by Mary Chapin Carpenter
A sweet folk offering about gratitude and a video featuring smiling faces, Norman Rockwell-esque art, and food, Mary Chapin Carpenter offers nourishment for truckers. Watch Here.
10: Alice’s Restaurant by Arlo Guthrie
The song was launched by the son of the famed Woody Guthrie (This Land Is Your Land) in 1967. An epic romp through littering, arrest, Thanksgiving, and the draft, Arlo’s witty song has been adopted as a Thanksgiving tradition by many. If you have 18 minutes and 15 seconds, Listen Here.
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