A Country Boy Can Survive
Song by Hank Williams Jr.
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"A Country Boy Can Survive" is a song written and recorded by American musician 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 chart in March 1982.[1] It is considered one of Williams' signature songs, being certified 5× Platinum by RIAA, even though it never reached number one.
| "A Country Boy Can Survive" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Single by Hank Williams Jr. | ||||
| from the album The Pressure Is On | ||||
| B-side | "Weatherman" | |||
| Released | January 18, 1982 | |||
| Recorded | 1981 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 4:16 | |||
| Label | Elektra/Curb | |||
| Songwriter | Hank Williams Jr. | |||
| Producers | Jimmy Bowen Hank Williams Jr. | |||
| Hank Williams Jr. singles chronology | ||||
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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.[2]
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 47 on the Billboard country charts.[3]
Content
Cover versions
Country music singer Toby Keith covered the song from the television special CMT Giants: Hank Williams Jr.[6]
The second verse mentions the narrator's relationship with a New York City businessman; despite their differing backgrounds (urban vs. rural) the two had become good friends and exchanged gifts ("he'd send me pictures of the Broadway nights/And I'd send him some homemade wine"). 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".[7] The "America Will Survive" remix has the businessman being a victim of the 9/11 attacks.[8]
Chart history
Original version
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[9] | 2 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 2 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1982) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[10] | 9 |
2001 re-release as "America Will Survive"
| Chart (2001) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks[2] | 45 |
2007 re-release for 25th Anniversary
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks[3] | 47 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[11] | 5× Platinum | 5,000,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Cover versions
Kid Rock recorded a cover of the song, which appeared on the 1993 EP Fire It Up, and as a B-side to his 1993 single "I Am the Bullgod". Joe Nichols recorded a version on his 2024 album, Honky Tonks & Country Songs.[12]
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 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 3:59 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. Nashville | |||
| Songwriters | Hank Williams, Jr. | |||
| Producers | Buddy Cannon Norro Wilson | |||
| Chad Brock singles chronology | ||||
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| Hank Williams, Jr. singles chronology | ||||
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| George Jones singles chronology | ||||
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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."[13] 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)[14] | 66 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[15] | 75 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[16] | 30 |