Hank Williams Jr. got his start as a teenager, singing his late father’s songs. However, after surviving a near-fatal fall in 1975, he reinvented his image and forged a new sound. His signature blend of country, rock, and blues made him a late addition to the Outlaw Country movement. More importantly, it saw him coming into his own and, by the ‘80s he was releasing one hit album after another.
Bocephus released High Notes in April 1982. Earlier that year, he appeared on Late Night with David Letterman to promote the album. At the time, Williams was still rising to the peak of his fame and Letterman had just started his reign as the king of late-night talk shows.
[RELATED: Essential Hank Williams Jr. Songs: 4 Deep Cuts for Fans of Bocephus Himself]
That night, Williams’ outlaw attitude was on full display. Instead of performing one of the songs from High Notes, he chose to perform “A Country Boy Can Survive” from his previous album The Pressure Is On.
Letterman held up a copy of High Notes and asked, “Is this song from the album, sir?” Williams replied, “No, it’s from the album before this one.” The studio audience laughed as the host introduced the song saying, “And now, ladies and gentlemen, to sing a song from the album before this one entitled ‘A Country Boy Can Survive,’ Hank Williams Jr.”
Hank Williams Jr. Gets a Hit with “A Country Boy Can Survive”
Hank Williams Jr. proved that a song doesn’t need to be a No. 1 single to be timeless. He wrote and released “A Country Boy Can Survive” as the second single from The Pressure Is On. The song went to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Today, more than 40 years later, it remains one of Hank Jr.’s signature songs.
“A Country Boy Can Survive” is more than a catchy song that contains a memorable story. It struck a nerve with and became an anthem for many of Williams’ rural listeners. The song laments spreading urbanization, rising crime rates, and the destruction of the natural environment. He lays out his concerns in the opening verse 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’ll only get mugged if you go downtown.
At the same time, the song outlines how those raised in rural areas are able to avoid the issues of urban life. More specifically, it extols the self-sufficiency of rural people and their ability to live off the land.
The song was timely in the early ‘80s and, unfortunately, hasn’t lost any of its relevance as time went on.
Featured Image by Ray Garbo/Shutterstock
Most Popular
Comments / 0