Down in the Boondocks (song)

"Down in the Boondocks" is a song written & produced by Joe South and sung by Billy Joe Royal. It was a hit in 1965, reaching #6 on the Cash Box magazine chart and #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the UK, it hit #38 on the Record Retailer chart. The song comes from the album Down in the Boondocks.

The song is sung from the perspective of a self-proclaimed "boy from down in the boondocks." He sings of a girl, who lives nearby, for whom he feels love and he steals away with occasionally. The people who live or are born in the boondock area are suggested to be a lower class than those in the city. The girl's father is the singer's boss, which, along with the social division, prevents him from proclaiming his love and connecting with her, despite the shared feelings. The singer proclaims that "one fine day, I'll find a way, to move from this old shack," presumably to be able to join the higher class members of society and finally be able to date the girl within the public eye. The refrain features an ascending loud and prolonged "AAHHH" solo voice ornamentation in the 'background'.

Cover Versions

The song was covered in 1978 by Kenny Loggins on his Nightwatch album, and in 1980 by D.L. Byron, featuring backing vocals by Billy Joel. It was also recorded by Depeche Mode member Martin Gore for his first solo album Counterfeit E.P. in 1989 but was ultimately left out of the final track listing. Ry Cooder recorded the song for inclusion in his 1980 album, Borderline.