Introduction
Resilient Roots: Revisiting the Spirit and Message of Hank Williams, Jr.’s Defiant Classic
Some songs outlast their time not just because of their melody, but because they speak to something deeper — a cultural backbone, a mindset, a way of life that refuses to fade. Few songs embody that enduring spirit quite like Hank Williams, Jr. – “A Country Boy Can Survive” (1981). This track, released over four decades ago, remains as relevant and striking today as it was when it first echoed across American radios in the early ’80s.
By 1981, Hank Williams, Jr. had long stepped out from the shadow of his legendary father and carved a powerful voice of his own. With “A Country Boy Can Survive,” he delivered not just a hit single, but an anthem — one that resonated deeply with listeners who valued independence, resilience, and the quiet strength of rural life. Hank Williams, Jr. – “A Country Boy Can Survive” (1981) is more than just a country song; it’s a declaration of self-sufficiency and a firm nod to the traditions and toughness of people often overlooked by the mainstream.
The lyrics reflect pride without arrogance — a celebration of grit and simplicity in the face of an ever-changing, fast-paced world. The song captures a tension that was beginning to brew in early 1980s America, between urban progress and rural preservation. Williams taps into that divide with sincerity, crafting verses that still speak to farmers, craftsmen, outdoorsmen, and anyone who understands the value of living close to the land.
Musically, the song leans into a classic Southern rock-influenced country sound — steady, no-nonsense, and unpolished in just the right ways. That raw authenticity is a hallmark of Williams’ style, and it’s part of what has kept this song alive and kicking.
In times of uncertainty or cultural shift, Hank Williams, Jr. – “A Country Boy Can Survive” (1981) continues to offer a reminder: while the world may change, there are values — like hard work, loyalty, and self-reliance — that never go out of style.
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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 trotline
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