About the song
Hank Williams Jr.’s “A Country Boy Can Survive.” This isn’t just a song; it’s a declaration, a cultural touchstone that speaks to self-reliance, loyalty, and a deep connection to the land, themes that resonate powerfully with an audience that values enduring principles.
Released in 1982, “A Country Boy Can Survive” quickly became one of Hank Williams Jr.’s most iconic and enduring hits, cementing his status as a voice for the working-class, rural American. Written by Williams himself, the song emerged from a period of perceived vulnerability in American society, with its references to “inflation,” “tough times,” and a shift away from traditional values. In response, Williams offered a defiant reassurance: despite external pressures, the country boy, with his inherent skills and community bonds, would persevere. “We can skin a buck, we can run a trotline / And a country boy can survive,” he sings, detailing a self-sufficient lifestyle that stands in stark contrast to urban complexities. This narrative of resilience and capability appeals directly to anyone who understands the value of hard work and self-reliance, and who might feel a similar disconnect from modern societal trends.
What makes “A Country Boy Can Survive” so impactful is Hank Williams Jr.’s delivery. His voice, a rich blend of gravel and soul, carries the weight of authenticity. He doesn’t just sing the words; he embodies the ethos. There’s a genuine conviction in his tone, a sense of lived experience that makes every line feel like a hard-won truth. He sings with a proud, defiant spirit, expressing loyalty to his roots and a subtle disdain for those who might underestimate the rural way of life. This raw, honest vocal performance is precisely why the song connected so deeply with its audience and continues to hold such a powerful place in country music.
Musically, the song is built on a sturdy foundation of classic country and Southern rock influences. It’s driven by a strong rhythm section, punctuated by a prominent bass line, and features a clean, no-nonsense guitar melody. The arrangement is robust and direct, allowing Williams’s vocals and the song’s powerful message to take center stage without unnecessary frills. It’s a sound that perfectly complements the song’s unapologetic stance. “A Country Boy Can Survive” stands as a powerful anthem of self-sufficiency and unwavering spirit, a testament to Hank Williams Jr.’s enduring legacy as a voice for the resilient heartland. It’s a song that, decades later, continues to remind us of the strength found in tradition and community.
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 trotline
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
