A Country Boy Can Survive

"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 commend 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 has also gained popularity as the fight entrance song for UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes.

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 kill 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

Writer(s)

Hank Williams, Jr.

Producer(s)

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 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

↑ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
↑ "Hank Williams, Jr. – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Hank Williams, Jr..
↑ "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
↑ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 10016." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. January 10, 2000. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
↑ "Chad Brock – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Chad Brock.
↑ "Chad Brock – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Chad Brock.

External links

Official music video by Hank Williams Jr.

Hank Williams Jr.

Studio albums	Your Cheatin' Heart Connie Francis and Hank Williams Jr. Sing Great Country Favorites Ballads of the Hills and Plains Blues My Name A Time to Sing Songs My Father Left Me Luke the Drifter Jr. Vol. 2 Live at Cobo Hall After You, Pride's Not Hard to Swallow Hank Williams Jr. and Friends Family Tradition Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound Habits Old and New Rowdy The Pressure Is On High Notes Strong Stuff Man of Steel Major Moves Five-O Montana Cafe Hank Live Born to Boogie Wild Streak Lone Wolf Pure Hank Maverick Out of Left Field Hog Wild A.K.A. Wham Bam Sam Three Hanks: Men with Broken Hearts Stormy The Almeria Club Recordings I'm One of You 127 Rose Avenue It's About Time

Compilation albums	Greatest Hits Greatest Hits Vol. 2 Fourteen Greatest Hits Hank Williams Jr.'s Greatest Hits Hank Williams Jr.'s Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 Greatest Hits, Vol. 3 America (The Way I See It) The Best of Hank Williams Jr. Volume One: Roots and Branches Tribute to My Father 20 Hits Special Collection, Vol. 1 Early Years, Vol. 1 Early Years, Vol. 2 The Bocephus Box That's How They Do It in Dixie: The Essential Collection

Notable singles	"Long Gone Lonesome Blues" "Nobody's Child" "All for the Love of Sunshine" "So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)" (with Lois Johnson) "Eleven Roses" "Rainy Night in Georgia" "I'll Think of Something" "I Fought the Law" "To Love Somebody" "Family Tradition" "Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound" "Women I've Never Had" "Kaw-Liga" "Old Habits" "Texas Women" "Dixie on My Mind" "All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down)" "A Country Boy Can Survive" "Honky Tonkin'" "The American Dream" "Gonna Go Huntin' Tonight" "Leave Them Boys Alone" (with Ernest Tubb and Waylon Jennings) "Queen of My Heart" "Man of Steel" "Attitude Adjustment" "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight" "Major Moves" "I'm for Love" "This Ain't Dallas" "Ain't Misbehavin'" "Country State of Mind" "Mind Your Own Business" (with Reba McEntire, Tom Petty, Reverend Ike and Willie Nelson) "Born to Boogie" "Heaven Can't Be Found" "Young Country" "If the South Woulda Won" "Early in the Morning and Late at Night" "There's a Tear in My Beer" (with Hank Williams Sr.) "Finders Are Keepers" "Ain't Nobody's Business" "Good Friends, Good Whiskey, Good Lovin'" "I Mean I Love You" "If It Will, It Will" "Devil in the Bottle" "Are You Ready for the Country?" (with Eric Church)

Guest singles	"The Conversation" (with Waylon Jennings) "Bartender Song (Sittin' at a Bar)" (with Rehab)

Family	Hank Williams Audrey Williams Jett Williams Hank Williams III Holly Williams

Related articles	Discography MGM Records Elektra Records Warner Bros. Records Curb Records Living Proof: The Hank Williams Jr. Story

Chad Brock

Studio albums	Chad Brock Yes! III

Notable singles	"Ordinary Life" "Lightning Does the Work" "A Country Boy Can Survive (Y2K version)" "Yes!" "The Visit"

Related articles	Warner Bros. Records

George Jones songs

Singles	"No Money in This Deal" "Why Baby Why" "Achin', Breakin' Heart" "Seasons of My Heart" "Too Much Water" "Just One More" "Don't Stop the Music" "Color of the Blues" "White Lightning" "Window Up Above" "Tender Years" "She Thinks I Still Care" "I'll Share My World with You "The Race Is On" "Love Bug" "Walk Through This World with Me" "If My Heart Had Windows" "Good Year for the Roses" "Loving You Could Never Be Better" "A Picture of Me (Without You)" "The Grand Tour" "The Door" "He Stopped Loving Her Today" "I'm Not Ready Yet" "If Drinkin' Don't Kill Me (Her Memory Will)" "Still Doin' Time" "Same Ole Me" "Shine On (Shine All Your Sweet Love on Me)" "I Always Get Lucky with You" "Tennessee Whiskey" "You've Still Got a Place in My Heart" "She's My Rock" "Hallelujah, I Love You So" "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes" "The One I Loved Back Then (The Corvette Song)" "Somebody Wants Me Out of the Way" "Wine Colored Roses" "The Right Left Hand" "I Turn to You" "The Bird" "I'm a One Woman Man" "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair" "Choices" "Funny How Time Slips Away"

Collaborative singles	"We Must Have Been Out of Our Minds" (w/ Melba Montgomery) "Let's Invite Them Over" (w/ Melba Montgomery) "What's in Our Heart" (w/ Melba Montgomery) "Blue Moon of Kentucky" (w/ Melba Montgomery) "We're Gonna Hold On" (w/ Tammy Wynette) "Golden Ring" (w/ Tammy Wynette) "Near You" (w/ Tammy Wynette) "Maybellene" (w/ Johnny Paycheck) "Two Story House" (w/ Tammy Wynette) "You Better Move On" (w/ Johnny Paycheck) "Yesterday's Wine" (w/ Merle Haggard) "C.C. Waterback" (w/ Merle Haggard)

Guest singles	"A Few Ole Country Boys" (w/ Randy Travis) "You Don't Seem to Miss Me" (w/ Patty Loveless) "A Country Boy Can Survive (Y2K version)" (w/ Chad Brock and Hank Williams, Jr.) "Murder on Music Row" (w/ Dierks Bentley)

Related articles	Albums discography Singles discography Discography with Tammy Wynette Awards

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