Alan Jackson Celebrates The Rural American Experience With “Country Boy”

Country music artist Alan Jackson absolutely embodies country, and his 2008 track “Country Boy” from his Good Time album is a perfect example. The song was his 25th career number-one hit on the Billboard Country Singles chart. 

The even more impressive part was that it marked the moment that Jackson matched fellow singer George Strait’s record for the most Number One hits by a country artist since January 1990. Aside from that, the song also peaked at number 49 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Meaning Behind The Song

Alan Jackson’s songs like “Country Boy” were as country as country gets  – from the lyrics down to the sound. Produced by Keith Stegall, this song is considered “one of the earliest popular examples of bro-country music.” It has also resonated with many fans of the genre, especially the country folks. 

While the lyrics talk about a boy inviting a girl to climb on his four-wheel-drive to go on a ride around town, at its core, it’s about the simplicity of rural life in America. Life can be rewarding without it being complicated. More importantly, the song celebrates it, and that’s because it highlights the sense of community of the country folks, their self-sufficiency, and their can-do attitude to overcome any difficulties. 

In terms of sound, it’s straightforward and fresh, bringing along that same sense of simplicity. It’s also so fun to listen to and even dance along to. 

For its music video, Jackson held a contest, which he announced on his official YouTube channel. The brief was that it should showcase driving around with a girlfriend, be no longer than five minutes, and be just a simple video. Clay Ashley, Dan Hair, and Mark Trotter of Sioux, Iowa, won the contest. 

However, before the official contest-won music video aired, TV network CMT aired the song’s live version for their Country Giants Special. Jackson featured fellow country artists Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, and George Strait in his performance. 

Listen to Alan Jackson’s “Country Boy” in the video below. Enjoy it, and don’t be afraid to bust a move if you feel like it.