A Country Boy Can Survive

"A Country Boy Can Survive"
Single by Hank Williams Jr.
from the album The Pressure Is On
B-side "Weatherman"
Released January 18, 1982
Format Single
Recorded 1981
Genre Country, Outlaw Country
Length 4:16
Label Elektra/Curb
Songwriter(s) Hank Williams Jr.
Producer(s) Jimmy Bowen
Hank Williams Jr.
Hank Williams Jr. singles chronology
"All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down)"
(1981)
"A Country Boy Can Survive"
(1982)
"Honky Tonkin'"
(1982)

"All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down)"
(1981)
"A Country Boy Can Survive"
(1982)
"Honky Tonkin'"
(1982)

"A Country Boy Can Survive" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Hank Williams Jr. The song was released as a single in January 1982 and reached a peak of number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts in March 1982.[1] It is considered one of Williams' signature songs even though it never reached number one.

Shortly after 9/11, Williams re-wrote and re-recorded the song with a patriotic theme under the name "America Will Survive"; the rewrite peaked at number 45 on the Billboard country charts.

In early 2007, Williams re-released the original version to commemorate the 25th anniversary of its original release, in addition to creating a music video for it. This re-release peaked at number 45 on the Billboard country charts.

Content

The song exalts and lists many things that detail the everyday life of country dwellers.

The notable second verse mentions the narrator's relationship with a New York City businessman; despite their differing backgrounds the two become good friends and exchange gifts ("he'd send me pictures of the Broadway nights/And I'd send him some homemade wine"). However, the businessman is "killed by a man with a switchblade knife/for $43 my friend lost his life"; Williams replies that he would like to personally shoot the mugger himself, but not before "(spitting) Beech-Nut in that dude's eyes". (The "America Will Survive" remix has the businessman being a victim of the 9/11 attacks.)

Chart positions

Original version

Chart (1982) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[2] 2
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 2

2001 re-release as "America Will Survive"

Chart (2001) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks 45

2007 re-release for 25th Anniversary

Chart (2007) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks 45

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
United States (RIAA)[3] Gold 500,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Chad Brock version (Y2K version)

"A Country Boy Can Survive (Y2K version)"
Single by Chad Brock, Hank Williams, Jr., and George Jones
from the album Yes!
B-side "Going the Distance"
Released November 22, 1999
Format CD single
Genre Country
Length 3:59
Label Warner Bros. Nashville
Songwriter(s) Hank Williams, Jr.
Producer(s) Buddy Cannon
Norro Wilson
Chad Brock singles chronology
"Lightning Does the Work"
(1999) Lightning Does the Work1999
"A Country Boy Can Survive"
(Y2K version)
(1999) A Country Boy Can Survive1999
"Yes!"
(2000) Yes!2000
Hank Williams, Jr. singles chronology
"I Ain't Goin' Peacefully"
(1995) I Ain't Goin' Peacefully1995
"A Country Boy Can Survive"
(Y2K version)
(1999) A Country Boy Can Survive1999
"America Will Survive"
(2001) America Will Survive2001
George Jones singles chronology
"Choices"
(1999) Choices1999
"A Country Boy Can Survive"
(Y2K version)
(1999) A Country Boy Can Survive1999
"Sinners and Saints"
(2000) Sinners and Saints2000

In late 1999, Chad Brock and George Jones collaborated with Williams to record a re-written version of the song with a Y2K theme, with lines such as "If the bank machines crash, we'll be just fine." This version peaked at number 30 on the Billboard country charts, and number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Chart positions

Chart (1999) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[4] 66
US Billboard Hot 100[5] 75
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[6] 30

References

  1. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
  2. "Hank Williams, Jr. – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Hank Williams, Jr..
  3. "American single certifications – Hank Williams, Jr. – A Country Boy Can Survive". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 27, 2012. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  4. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 10016." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. January 10, 2000. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  5. "Chad Brock – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Chad Brock.
  6. "Chad Brock – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Chad Brock.
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