Thank God I'm A Country Boy

Album: An Evening With John Denver (1974)
Charted: 1
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  • 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 Writer/s: John Martin Sommers
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Songtrust Ave
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 5

  • Anthony from New JerseyDenver mentions “Sally Goodin” in this song and I had to research it to see what he was referring to. What I learned is it’s a well known fiddle tune about a girl named Sally Goodin that’s very simple to learn and play on the fiddle and that it’s popular in parts of the south. It’s a pretty old song, where some parts go back to the Civil War.

    John sings: “Well I’d play Sally Goodin all day if I could, but the LORD & my wife wouldn’t take it very good. So I play when I can and work when I should, Thank God, I’m a Country Boy!” The way he phrases it in the song made me believe that by “Sally Goodin’” he meant fooling around, as in goofing off, that sort of thing. All these years I thought that was what he meant but now I just think he’s referring to the name of the song he’s playing but I actually liked what I thought at first was better! Anybody else?
  • Ralphm from Sebring FlA song that doesn't know when to stop. Even the crowd's clapping is waning half way through. Brevity is the soul of wit - Denver might have heeded this advice.
  • Nancy from VirginiaI was only around 7 when my parents introduced me to songs by the greats like John Denver. I remember Dad driving our Camper across the US and All of us singing along to Songs like "Take me Home, Country Road" and Thank God, I'm a Country Boy (Girl)". I totally was and still am!:) Love the values sung about in these songs. They ring more True in today's World, where it's practically impossible to find actual Artists and Storytellers in the Music Industry, save for Country.
  • Bruce from San Jose, Calif.I was 13 when this came out...I guess it could be called "Country Rap" but since I was always a country kid in a city suburb kid's body, this song always really resonated with me...I sang this around campfires when camping with my Boy Scout troop, and it always brings a smile to my face and gets my foot tapping today as an adult....this song is a classic!
  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaLoved the fiddle on this song.
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