The A Country Boy Can Survive song was released as a single in January of 1982 and reached a peak of number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts in March of 1982. 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.
The song is a celebration of the rugged, independent spirit of rural America and has become an anthem for the country way of life. The song’s lyrics tell the story of a man who has grown up in the country and knows how to survive in the face of adversity. He is self-reliant and tough, able to hunt and fish for his food and defend himself against any threat. The chorus, “Cause a country boy can survive,” became a rallying cry for those who believe in the power of hard work and self-sufficiency.
This became the most popular music video of his career with over 143 million views as of May of 2023. Watch the music video and see the written lyrics below.
Hank Williams Jr. A Country Boy Can Survive Music Video
Hank Williams Jr. wrote this song.
A Country Boy Can Survive 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
“A Country Boy Can Survive” is a classic song that has become an anthem for the rugged, independent spirit of rural America. Hank Jr.’s impassioned vocals and the song’s driving instrumentation perfectly capture the character of the country boy he’s singing about. The song’s enduring popularity is a testament to its universal appeal and the enduring appeal of the values it celebrates. Remember to “share” the A Country Boy Can Survive music video with other Country Music fans.
