As you read this (assuming, as usual, that you’re reading it as soon as it’s published) I am on a ranch to see a rodeo.

No, really. I know that’s not usually my scene, but I’m at a rodeo. I’m generally a baseball and football guy, but if one or more people are competing at something, I will watch it and, if someone will take my money, I will bet on it.

Since I’m in a rural area, I thought it might be time to finally give country music its due. It tends to be left out of my columns, largely because of my 30-year grudge against pop country and the fact that I’m not especially familiar with it overall. Now is probably the time, if only to ingratiate myself with the locals.

Here are five of my favorite country songs, even though I’m a city boy.

Johnny Cash — “I Walk the Line”

Let’s just get the obvious out of the way: If you don’t like Johnny Cash, you’re wrong. Objectively wrong.

Cash is one of the most consistently great singers and songwriters of all time, and “I Walk the Line” is probably his magnum opus. The song is 65 years old and it holds up perfectly, which is a credit to the timelessness of Cash’s work.

I could just gush about what a great musician he is for a few hundred words, but I won’t because you already know.

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Dolly Parton — “Jolene”

And now the other obvious pick. Dolly Parton, also amazing.

This is the third time I’ve added Dolly to a list in my column this year and it’s only April. The most recent time was only two weeks ago. The other time was this same song. I don’t even care. If I listed country songs and didn’t include “Jolene,” it would be a travesty.

Our illustrious editor Roman Gokhman may complain about the repeats but go ahead, argue against Dolly Parton. I dare you. [Gokhman note: Damn you, Willis].

Merle Haggard — “Mama Tried”

Now we get through the obvious picks to ones that aren’t universally beloved cultural touchstones. [Gokhman note: Unless you’re from California].

This is a song from the 1968 movie “Killers Three,” which… the movie isn’t good. It was written and produced by Dick Clark, it starred Dick Clark—and as great as Dick Clark was at hosting on TV and radio, he was not exactly a filmmaker.

The song, though, is surprisingly autobiographical. Like the main character, Merle Haggard’s mama spent time in San Quentin. Like the main character, Haggard himself was in prison, though he did three years for robbery rather than the more dramatic life without parole in the song. Due to that, the vocals sound personal in a way that really resonates.

Also, the guitar at the beginning and over the verses is understated and beautiful in a way you hardly see in country music. The song is so good it became a mainstay at Grateful Dead shows. The man was truly an artist.

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Hank Williams — “Your Cheatin’ Heart”

I had to include a Hank Williams song if only to help rebuild the reputation his idiot son has spent decades trying desperately to ruin. That’s the risk of naming your kid after yourself: They might become a cliched joke by screaming about football and parroting conspiracy theories.

But enough about that. I’m trying to practice not breaking into extended political rants so I don’t get in a fistfight at the rodeo.

Hank Williams Sr., unlike his son, is a genius with lyrics, showing a depth of mind and soul. It was hard to choose between “Your Cheatin’ Heart” and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” so I flipped a coin. Literally. It came up tails. They’re both good so I couldn’t decide.

Brandi Carlile — “The Story”

I know, I know, someone’s gonna yell at me in the comments or on Twitter about this one. It’s apparently debatable that she counts as country as opposed to, say, folk, or folk rock, or Americana or whatever. I don’t care what you say; listen to the vocals of this song, listen to her acoustic guitar; that’s country.

Also, I figured I should include at least one song that was released in my lifetime. All the rest were from when my parents were kids or, in one case, not born yet, either.

I wasn’t super familiar with Carlile until I covered for someone and reviewed her show at the Greek in Berkeley in 2019. It was amazing. Easily one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. I’m not even slightly exaggerating, the show was absolute magic. Her latest album was also one of our favorites in 2021.

Come at me. But not at the rodeo. I prefer to be yelled at through computers if it has to happen.

Follow editor Daniel J. Willis and tweet column ideas to him at Twitter.com/BayAreaData.