Smoky Mountain Rain

1980 single by Ronnie Milsap

"Smoky Mountain Rain"

Single by Ronnie Milsap
from the album  Greatest Hits
B-side| "Crystal Fallin' Rain"
Released| September 1980 (U.S.)
Recorded| 1980
Genre| Country
Length| 3:43
Label| RCA Nashville
Songwriter(s)| Kye Fleming, Dennis Morgan[1]
Producer(s)| Tom Collins, Ronnie Milsap
Ronnie Milsap singles chronology
| "Cowboys and Clowns" / "Misery Loves Company"
(1980)  | "Smoky Mountain Rain"
(1980)  | "Am I Losing You"
(1981)

|
|

"Smoky Mountain Rain" is a song written by Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan, and recorded by American country music singer Ronnie Milsap. It was released in September 1980 as the first and only single from his Greatest Hits compilation album. The single became one of his best-known songs.

In 2010, "Smoky Mountain Rain" became Tennessee's eighth state song as a result of action by the Tennessee General Assembly on June 3, 2010.[2][3] In 2014, Rolling Stone magazine ranked "Smoky Mountain Rain" number 96 in their list of the 100 greatest country songs.[4]

## Content

[edit]

The song is a first-person narrative of a man who has left Los Angeles and returned to Knoxville, Tennessee, due to "a change of dreams." He attempts to call a woman from a phone booth, but learns that she is gone. Attempting to find her, he then gets a ride from a truck driver who is going to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Although he "can't blame her for letting go," he vows to find her "no matter what it takes." Rain is mentioned in the opening verse, in the bridge, and three times in the chorus. Milsap liked the lyrics of Elvis Presley's "Kentucky Rain" so much that "Smoky Mountain Rain" was written for him similarly, albeit with a slightly different flavor:[5] Millsap had played piano on the recording of Presley's "Kentucky Rain" in 1969.

## Critical reception

[edit]

In 2024, Rolling Stone ranked the song at #115 on its 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time ranking.[6]

## Charts

[edit]

The song was Milsap's 16th number one hit on Billboard magazine's Hot Country Singles chart where it stayed at the top for one week in December 1980.[7] "Smoky Mountain Rain" also fared well as a crossover hit and was the first of his two number one hits on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart (the other being "Any Day Now"), as well as number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100.[8]

Chart (1980–1981)  | Peak
position

|

US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[9] | 1
US Billboard Hot 100[10] | 24
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[11] | 1
Canadian RPM Country Tracks  | 8
Year-end chart (1981) | Rank

|

US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[12] | 88

## 2019 version

[edit]

"Smoky Mountain Rain"

Single by Ronnie Milsap featuring Dolly Parton
from the album  The Duets
Released| May 1, 2019
Recorded| 2018
Genre| Country
Length| 3:45
Label|

* Riser House
* GForce

Songwriter(s)|

* Dennis Morgan
* Kye Fleming

Producer(s)|

* Rob Galbraith
* Ronnie Milsap

Dolly Parton singles chronology
| "Girl in the Movies"
(2018)  | "Smoky Mountain Rain"
(2019)  | "I Will Always Love You"
(2019)

|
|

Music video
"Smoky Mountain Rain" on YouTube

In 2019 Milsap released a new version of the song featuring American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton (with additional lyrics written by Parton). It was produced by Milsap and Rob Galbraith and released on Milsap's 2019 album, The Duets. It was sent to Country radio as the first single from the album on May 1, 2019 and Adult Contemporary radio on June 19.[13]

### Music video

[edit]

An animated music video for the song was released on May 16, 2019.[14] The video tells the story of a man who has come back to a woman that he has left only to find that she has moved on.

### Charts

[edit]

Chart (2019)  | Peak
position

|

US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[11] | 27

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "www.classic-country-song-lyrics.com". www.classic-country-song-lyrics.com. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
2. ^ Tennessee Journal, Vol. 36, No. 23, June 4, 2010
3. ^ Tom Humphrey, 'Smoky Mountain Rain' Wins Race to Become 8th State Song Archived 2010-06-06 at the Wayback Machine, KnoxNews website, June 3, 2010.
4. ^ "96. Ronnie Milsap, 'Smoky Mountain Rain' (1980) | 100 Greatest Country Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 2014-06-01. Retrieved 2016-10-17.
5. ^ Roben James (2010). Memphis Boys: The Story of American Studios. University of Mississippi Press. p. 210\. ISBN 9781604734027. Retrieved 2021-03-11.
6. ^ "The 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. May 24, 2014.
7. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 233.
8. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 171.
9. ^ "Ronnie Milsap Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
10. ^ "Ronnie Milsap Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
11. ^ a b "Ronnie Milsap Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
12. ^ "Number One Awards – Billboard's 1981 Year-End Charts : Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 93, no. 51\. December 26, 1981. p. YE-9. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
13. ^ "Ronnie Milsap Feat. Dolly Parton - Smoky Mountain Rain". Daily Play MPE®. 19 June 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
14. ^ "Ronnie Milsap - Smoky Mountain Rain (with Dolly Parton) Official Music Video". YouTube. 16 May 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2019.

## External links

[edit]

* Smoky Mountain Rain lyrics via lyricsfreak.com
* Ronnie Milsap : Smokey Mountain Rain via YouTube

* v
* t
* e

Ronnie Milsap

Studio albums|

* Ronnie Milsap
* Where My Heart Is
* Pure Love
* Legend in My Time
* A Rose By Any Other Name
* Night Things
* 20/20 Vision
* It Was Almost Like a Song
* Only One Love in My Life
* Images
* Milsap Magic
* Out Where the Bright Lights Are Glowing
* There's No Gettin' Over Me
* Inside
* Keyed Up
* One More Try for Love
* Lost in the Fifties Tonight
* Christmas with Ronnie Milsap
* Heart & Soul
* Stranger Things Have Happened
* Back to the Grindstone
* True Believer
* Sings His Best for Capitol Records
* Just for a Thrill
* My Life
* Then Sings My Soul

Compilation albums|

* Greatest Hits
* Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
* Greatest Hits, Vol. 3
* 40 #1 Hits
* 16 Biggest Hits

#1 singles|

* "Pure Love"
* "Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends"
* "(I'd Be) A Legend in My Time"
* "Daydreams About Night Things"
* "What Goes On When the Sun Goes Down"
* "(I'm A) Stand by My Woman Man"
* "Let My Love Be Your Pillow"
* "It Was Almost Like a Song"
* "What a Difference You've Made in My Life"
* "Only One Love in My Life"
* "Let's Take the Long Way Around the World"
* "Back on My Mind Again"
* "Nobody Likes Sad Songs"
* "Why Don't You Spend the Night"
* "My Heart"
* "Cowboys and Clowns"
* "Smoky Mountain Rain"
* "Am I Losing You"
* "(There's) No Gettin' Over Me"
* "I Wouldn't Have Missed It for the World"
* "Any Day Now"
* "He Got You"
* "Inside"
* "Stranger in My House"
* "Don't You Know How Much I Love You"
* "Show Her"
* "Still Losing You"
* "She Keeps the Home Fires Burning"
* "Lost in the Fifties Tonight (In the Still of the Night)"
* "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby"
* "In Love"
* "How Do I Turn You On"
* "Snap Your Fingers"
* "Make No Mistake, She's Mine" (with Kenny Rogers)
* "Where Do the Nights Go"
* "Don't You Ever Get Tired (Of Hurting Me)"
* "A Woman in Love"
* "Stranger Things Have Happened"

Other songs|

* "Too Late to Worry, Too Blue to Cry"
* "Just in Case"
* "In No Time at All"
* "Prisoner of the Highway"
* "Old Folks" (with Mike Reid)
* "Button Off My Shirt"
* "Houston Solution"
* "Are You Lovin' Me Like I'm Lovin' You"
* "Since I Don't Have You"
* "Turn That Radio On"
* "All Is Fair in Love and War"
* "True Believer"

Related articles|

* Discography

* v
* t
* e

Dolly Parton

* Albums
* Singles
* Songs
* Compilation albums
* Album appearances
* Filmography
* Awards and nominations

Studio albums|

| 1960s|

* Hello, I'm Dolly
* Just Because I'm a Woman
* In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)
* My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy

|

1970s|

* The Fairest of Them All
* The Golden Streets of Glory
* Joshua
* Coat of Many Colors
* Touch Your Woman
* My Favorite Songwriter, Porter Wagoner
* My Tennessee Mountain Home
* Bubbling Over
* Jolene
* Love Is Like a Butterfly
* The Bargain Store
* Dolly
* All I Can Do
* New Harvest...First Gathering
* Here You Come Again
* Heartbreaker
* Great Balls of Fire

|

1980s|

* Dolly, Dolly, Dolly
* 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs
* Heartbreak Express
* Burlap & Satin
* The Great Pretender
* Once Upon a Christmas
* Real Love
* Trio
* Rainbow
* White Limozeen

|

1990s|

* Home for Christmas
* Eagle When She Flies
* Slow Dancing with the Moon
* Honky Tonk Angels
* Something Special
* Treasures
* Hungry Again
* Trio II
* Precious Memories
* The Grass Is Blue

|

2000s|

* Little Sparrow
* Halos & Horns
* For God and Country
* Those Were the Days
* Backwoods Barbie

|

2010s|

* Better Day
* Blue Smoke
* Pure & Simple
* I Believe in You

|

2020s|

* A Holly Dolly Christmas
* Run, Rose, Run
* Rockstar

|

Live albums|

* A Real Live Dolly
* Heartsongs: Live from Home
* Live and Well

Soundtrack albums|

* 9 to 5
* The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
* Rhinestone
* Straight Talk
* Joyful Noise
* Dumplin'

Compilation albums|

* Hits Made Famous by Country Queens
* As Long as I Love
* The Best of Dolly Parton
* Just the Way I Am
* Mine
* Best of Dolly Parton
* Greatest Hits
* The Winning Hand
* Collector's Series
* Think About Love
* The Best There Is
* Best of Dolly Parton, Vol. 3
* I Will Always Love You and Other Greatest Hits
* Ultimate Dolly Parton
* The Very Best of Dolly Parton
* Playlist: The Very Best of Dolly Parton
* Diamonds & Rhinestones: The Greatest Hits Collection

Singles|

| 1960s|

* "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby"
* "Dumb Blonde"
* "Something Fishy"
* "In the Ghetto"

|

1970s|

* "Mule Skinner Blues"
* "Joshua"
* "Comin' for to Carry Me Home"
* "Coat of Many Colors"
* "Touch Your Woman"
* "My Tennessee Mountain Home"
* "Jolene"
* "I Will Always Love You"
* "Love is Like a Butterfly
* "The Bargain Store"
* "The Seeker"
* "We Used To"
* "All I Can Do"
* "Light of a Clear Blue Morning"
* "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher"
* "Here You Come Again"
* "Two Doors Down"
* "It's All Wrong, But It's All Right"
* "Heartbreaker"
* "It's Too Late to Love Me Now"
* "Baby I'm Burnin'"
* "I Really Got the Feeling"
* "You're the Only One"
* "Great Balls of Fire"
* "Sweet Summer Lovin'"

|

1980s|

* "Starting Over Again"
* "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You"
* "9 to 5"
* "But You Know I Love You"
* "The House of the Rising Sun"
* "Single Women"
* "Heartbreak Express"
* "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind"
* "Hard Candy Christmas"
* "Potential New Boyfriend"
* "Save the Last Dance for Me"
* "Downtown"
* "She Don't Love You (Like I Love You)"
* "Tennessee Homesick Blues"
* "Medley: Winter Wonderland/Sleigh Ride"
* "Don't Call It Love"
* "Real Love"
* "Think About Love"
* "Tie Our Love (In a Double Knot)"
* "We Had It All"
* "To Know Him Is to Love Him"
* "Telling Me Lies"
* "Those Memories of You"
* "The River Unbroken"
* "Wildflowers"
* "Why'd You Come in Here Lookin' Like That"
* "Yellow Roses"

|

1990s|

* "Time for Me to Fly"
* "White Limozeen"
* "Love Is Strange"
* "Rockin' Years"
* "Silver and Gold"
* "Eagle When She Flies"
* "Light of a Clear Blue Morning"
* "Romeo"
* "Silver Threads and Golden Needles"
* "To Daddy"
* "Just When I Needed You Most"
* "Peace Train"
* "After the Gold Rush"
* "Feels Like Home"
* "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind"
* "Walking on Sunshine"

|

2000s|

* "Seven Bridges Road"
* "Shine"
* "Imagine"
* "Both Sides Now"
* "Twelfth of Never"
* "Travelin' Thru"
* "Where Do the Children Play"
* "Better Get to Livin'"
* "Drives Me Crazy"

|

2010s|

* "Together You and I"
* "Calling My Children Home"
* "The Story"
* "The Last Word in Lonesome Is Me"
* "Here I Am"
* "Girl in the Movies"
* "God Only Knows"
* "There Was Jesus"
* "Faith"

|

2020s|

* "When Life Is Good Again"
* "Mary, Did You Know?"
* "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"
* "Cuddle Up, Cozy Down Christmas"
* "In the Sweet By and By"
* "Magic Man"
* "We Are the Champions/We Will Rock You"
* "Step by Step"
* "Let It Be"
* "What's Up?"
* "Wrecking Ball"
* "Southern Accents"

|

Features|

* "Islands in the Stream"
* "Love Is Strange"
* "When You Tell Me That You Love Me"
* "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"
* "Sleepless Nights"
* "Viva Las Vegas"
* "Baby, It's Cold Outside"
* "If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body (Would You Hold It Against Me)"
* "When I Get Where I'm Going"
* "I Still Miss Someone"
* "You Can't Make Old Friends"
* "Forever Country"
* "Smoky Mountain Rain"
* "Words"
* "Eagle When She Flies"
* "Does He Love You (Revisited)"
* "Forever Young"

|

Film and TV|

* Dolly (1976)
* Dolly (1987)
* Dolly & Carol in Nashville
* Hollywood to Dollywood
* The Book Lady
* For the Love of Dolly
* Coat of Many Colors
* Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love
* Dolly Parton's Heartstrings
* Christmas on the Square

Tours|

* Halos & Horns Tour
* Hello, I'm Dolly Tour
* The Vintage Tour
* An Evening with Dolly Parton
* Backwoods Barbie Tour
* Better Day World Tour
* Blue Smoke World Tour
* Pure & Simple Tour

Theme parks|

* Dollywood
* Dollywood's Splash Country

Related articles|

* Stella Parton
* Rachel Dennison
* Dollywood Foundation
* Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton discography
* Dolly Parton's America
* Mural of Dolly Parton and RuPaul

* Category

* v
* t
* e

National and regional anthems of North America

Sovereign states|

* Antigua and Barbuda
* Bahamas
* Barbados
* Belize
* Canada
* Costa Rica
* Cuba
* Dominica
* Dominican Republic
* El Salvador
* Grenada
* Guatemala
* Haiti
* Honduras
* Jamaica
* Mexico
* Nicaragua
* Panama
* Saint Kitts and Nevis
* Saint Lucia
* Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
* Trinidad and Tobago
* United States

Regions|

| British West Indies|

* Anguilla
* Bermuda
* British Virgin Islands
* Cayman Islands
* Montserrat
* Turks and Caicos Islands

|

Canada|

* Alberta
* Newfoundland and Labrador
* Ontario
* Prince Edward Island
* Quebec

Dutch Caribbean|

* Aruba
* Bonaire
* Curaçao
* Saba
* Sint Eustatius (Statia)
* Sint Maarten

French West Indies|

* Guadeloupe
* Martinique
* Saint-Barthélemy
* Saint Martin
* Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Kingdom of Denmark|

* Greenland

Mexico|

* Aguascalientes
* Baja California & Baja California Sur
* Chiapas
* Coahuila
* Oaxaca
* Tlaxcala
* Yucatán
* Zacatecas

United States|

* Alabama
* Alaska
* Arizona
* Arkansas
* California
* Colorado
* Rocky Mountain High
* Where the Columbines Grow
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* Florida
* Georgia
* Hawaii
* Idaho
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Kentucky
* Louisiana
* Give Me Louisiana
* You Are My Sunshine
* Maine
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Mississippi
* Missouri
* Montana
* Nebraska
* Nevada
* New Hampshire
* New Mexico
* Bilingual
* English
* Spanish
* New York
* North Carolina
* North Dakota
* Northern Mariana Islands
* Ohio
* Oklahoma
* Oklahoma
* Oklahoma Hills
* Oregon
* Pennsylvania
* Puerto Rico
* Rhode Island
* South Carolina
* Carolina
* South Carolina on My Mind
* South Dakota
* Tennessee
* My Homeland, Tennessee
* Tennessee Waltz
* Rocky Top
* Tennessee
* Smoky Mountain Rain
* Texas
* U.S. Virgin Islands
* Utah
* Vermont
* Virginia
* Washington
* West Virginia
* Take Me Home, Country Roads
* The West Virginia Hills
* Wisconsin
* Wyoming

Former|

* Alaska (1833-1867)
* Federal Republic of Central America (1823–1839)
* Confederate States (1861–1865)
* Confederate States (1861–1865)
* Grenada (1967–1974)
* Haiti (1893–1903)
* Maryland (United States) (1937–2021)
* Netherlands Antilles (2000–2010)
* Nicaragua (1876–1889)
* Nicaragua (1889–1893)
* Nicaragua (1893–1910)
* United States (1789–1931)
* United States (1831–1931)
* Virginia (United States) (1940–1997)

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