About the song
Good day, friends. Today, let’s talk about a song that isn’t just a classic country hit, but a genuine cultural touchstone. It’s a song that became an anthem for a way of life, a defiant declaration of resilience and a testament to a set of values that, for many, felt like they were slipping away. I’m referring to none other than Hank Williams, Jr.’s “A Country Boy Can Survive”.
Released in 1982, this track was a different kind of country song. It wasn’t about a broken heart, a honky-tonk bar, or a fast car. It was a narrative, a manifesto that articulated a sense of pride and identity for a generation of rural and working-class Americans. In a period marked by economic uncertainty and a growing cultural divide between urban and rural life, Hank Williams, Jr. stepped into the breach and gave a voice to those who felt their world was misunderstood.
The song’s genius lies in its powerful and simple storytelling. Williams, in his gruff, no-nonsense delivery, paints a vivid picture of a country boy’s life, anchored by a deep connection to the land and a fierce sense of self-reliance. He sings about the value of a hunting rifle passed down from his father, the importance of knowing how to live off the land, and the unshakeable loyalty he holds for his friends and family. The narrative culminates in its most iconic and controversial line, a promise that when the world goes to pot, the country boy will “get along just fine,” while the rest might not. This wasn’t a boast; it was a confident, almost prophetic, statement about a set of skills and a mindset that a changing world seemed to be forgetting.
Musically, the song is pure outlaw country, with a rugged, blues-infused feel that perfectly matches the lyrics. The arrangement is sparse and raw, with a simple, driving rhythm that keeps the focus squarely on Williams’s powerful vocal performance. His voice, weathered and full of conviction, isn’t just singing the words; it’s delivering a message he clearly believes with every fiber of his being.
Over the decades, “A Country Boy Can Survive” has transcended its origins to become a modern American folk song. It’s a reminder of a certain kind of stubborn independence and a deep pride in one’s roots. It resonated with millions then and continues to do so today, proving that its message of resilience and self-sufficiency is as relevant now as it was when it was first recorded. It’s a song that speaks to the heart of what it means to stand your ground and be proud of where you come from.
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
