Thank God I'm A Country Boy

Album

Back Home Again

Label

RCA Records

Genre

Bluegrass

Composer(s)

John Martin Sommers

Entered Chart

Mar 22, 1975

Peak Date

Jun 7, 1975

Released

March 1975

Recorded

August 26, 1974

Catalog #

RCA 10239

B-Side

My Sweet Lady

John Denver had already earned his country cred with the crossover hit "Take Me Home Country Roads" in 1971. While that song was inspired by a longing to settle in West Virginia (nor he or the songwriters had actually ever visited the state), this track literally hit closer to home as it was influenced by the singer's beloved Colorado, where he made his home in Aspen. Denver's guitarist/fiddler, John Martin Sommers, wrote the tune during a peaceful drive from Aspen to Los Angeles. The song originally appeared on Denver's Back Home Again album, but was overshadowed by the hit "Annie's Song." A live version was recorded at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles as part of the album and television special An Evening with John Denver and released as a single in 1975, topping both the pop and country charts. In 1975, the Baltimore Orioles began a long-standing tradition of playing this during the seventh-inning stretch. Country singer Billy Dean landed at #27 on the country charts with his 2004 cover. Alabama native Jim Nabors (aka Gomer Pyle of The Andy Griffith Show) performed this on The Muppet Show in 1976. Soulja Boy sampled this on his 2011 song "Country Boy" from the mixtape 21 EP. Dolly Parton sang this on her mid-'70s variety show Dolly! She also performed a bluegrass rendition at some of her concerts. This was featured in the 1993 comedy Son in Law, starring Pauly Shore and Carla Gugino. In Stephen King's 1979 novel The Dead Zone, this is used as a campaign song for farm boy-turned-politician Greg Stillson.

Well life on the farm is kinda laid back
Ain't much an old country boy like me can't hack
It's early to rise, early in the sack
I thank God I'm a country boy

Well a simple kinda life never did me no harm
A raisin' me a family and workin' on the farm
My days are all filled with an easy country charm
Thank God I'm a country boy

Well I got me a fine wife I got me ol' fiddle
When the sun's comin' up I got cakes on the griddle
And life ain't nothin' but a funny funny riddle
Thank God I'm a country boy

When the work's all done and the sun's settlin' low
I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow
The kids are asleep so I keep it kinda low
Thank God I'm a country boy

I'd play Sally Goodin all day if I could
But the Lord and my wife wouldn't take it very good
So I fiddle when I can and I work when I should
Thank God I'm a country boy

Well I got me a fine wife I got me ol' fiddle
When the sun's comin' up I got cakes on the griddle
Life ain't nothin' but a funny funny riddle
Thank God I'm a country boy, woo

Well I wouldn't trade my life for diamonds or jewels
I never was one of them money hungry fools
I'd rather have my fiddle and my farmin' tools
Thank God I'm a country boy

Yeah, city folk drivin' in a black limousine
A lotta sad people thinkin' that's a mighty keen
Well, son, let me tell ya now exactly what I mean
I thank God I'm a country boy

Well I got me a fine wife I got me ol' fiddle
When the sun's comin' up I got cakes on the griddle
And life ain't nothin' but a funny funny riddle
Thank God I'm a country boy

Well, my fiddle was my daddy's 'til the day he died
And he took me by the hand, held me close to his side
Said, "live a good life, play my fiddle with pride
And thank God you're a country boy"

Well, my daddy taught me young how to hunt and how to whittle
Taught me how to work to play a tune on the fiddle
He taught me how to love and how to give just a little
And thank God I'm a country boy

Well I got me a fine wife I got me ol' fiddle
When the sun's comin' up I got cakes on the griddle
Life ain't nothin' but a funny funny riddle
Woo, thank God I'm a country boy, yes