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
Length	4:16
Label	Curb/Warner Bros.
Writer(s)	Hank Williams, Jr.
Producer	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)

"A Country Boy Can Survive" is the title of 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 #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, as "America Will Survive". This rewrite peaked at #45 on the Billboard country charts.

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

The song has also gained popularity as the fight entrance song for former UFC champion Matt Hughes.

Content

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

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 lights/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 kill the mugger himself. (The "America Will Survive" remix has the businessman being a victim of the 9/11 attacks.)

Chart positions

Original version

Chart (1982)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks	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

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!
Released	November 22, 1999
Genre	Country
Length	3:59
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Buddy Cannon Norro Wilson
Chad Brock chronology "Lightning Does the Work" (1999) "A Country Boy Can Survive" (Y2K version) (1999) "Yes!" (2000) Hank Williams, Jr. chronology "I Ain't Goin' Peacefully" (1995) "A Country Boy Can Survive" (Y2K version) (1999) "America Will Survive" (2001) George Jones chronology "Choices" (1999) "A Country Boy Can Survive" (Y2K version) (1999) "Sinners and Saints" (2000)

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 #30 on the Billboard country charts, and #75 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Chart positions

Chart (1999)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks	30
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	75
Canadian RPM Country Tracks	66

References

1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.