About The Song
“A Country Boy Can Survive” became a trademark anthem for Hank Williams Jr. It is perhaps more well-known these days even more, although it never peaked at #1. It was penned by the singer himself and was released in January 1982 as a single with the production of Jimmy Bowen.
It depicts developments to American lifestyle and culture that matched countryside concerns of the adverse effect from rising deindustrialization and applauds the aptitude of ‘country boys.’ As literate townsfolk and residents may despise their countryside neighbors, they must never forget that those “rednecks” can trail, farm, and protect themselves. Its lyrics narrate how rural-dwellers don’t believe that huge cities supply the same conditions for themselves.
It is among Hank Williams Jr. songs that still experience appreciation from people who embrace their determination to live. It clearly states that those who live earnestly should keep going regardless. Moreover, the song is an up-tempo version of modern country music that is still unrivaled over the years.
A Country Boy Can Survive by Hank Williams Jr. peaked at # 2 on the US Hot Country Songs chart, remaining there for 20 weeks. It also reached number # 2 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks charts.
Thirty years later, Williams reinterpreted and re-recorded the song to pay tribute to America shortly after 9/11, and “America Will Survive” was born. And in 2007, Williams re-released the original rendition to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its first release. Both versions reached the #45 spot on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
Video
Lyrics
The preacher man says it’s the end of time
And the Mississippi River, she’s a-goin’ dry
The interest is up and the stock market’s down
And you only get mugged if you go downtown
I live back in the woods you see
My woman and the kids and the dogs and me
I got a shotgun, a rifle and a four-wheel drive
And a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive
I can plow a field all day long
I can catch catfish from dusk ’til dawn (Yeah)
We make our own whiskey and our own smoke too
Ain’t too many things these old boys can’t do
We grow good-ole tomatoes and homemade wine
And a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive
Because you can’t starve us out and you can’t make us run
‘Cause we’re them old boys raised on shotguns
We say grace, and we say ma’am
If you ain’t into that, we don’t give a damn
We came from the West Virginia coal mines
And the Rocky Mountains, and the western skies
And we can skin a buck, we can run a trot line
And a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive
I had a good friend in New York City
He never called me by my name, just Hillbilly
My grandpa taught me how to live off the land
And his taught him to be a businessman
He used to send me pictures of the Broadway nights
And I’d send him some homemade wine
But he was killed by a man with a switchblade knife
For 43 dollars, my friend lost his life
I’d love to spit some Beech-Nut in that dude’s eyes
And shoot him with my old .45
‘Cause a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive
‘Cause you can’t starve us out and you can’t make us run
‘Cause we’re them old boys raised on shotguns
We say grace, and we say ma’am
If you ain’t into that, we don’t give a damn
We’re from North California and South Alabam’
And little towns all around this land
And we can skin a buck, and run a trotline
And a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive
A country boy can survive
Country folks can survive