B-side "Oh, What a Night" Genre Rock, Beat Label Columbia 43305 | Released 1965 Length 2:32 Writer(s) Joe South | |
"Down in the Boondocks" is a song written by Joe South and recorded by American artist Billy Joe Royal. It was a hit in 1965, reaching number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the UK, it hit number 38 on the Record Retailer chart. The song comes from the album Down in the Boondocks.
Contents
Content
The song is sung from the perspective of a self-proclaimed "boy from down in the boondocks." He sings of a girl who lives nearby, for whom he feels love and he steals away with occasionally. The people who live or are born in the boondocks are suggested to be a lower class than those in the city. The girl's father is the singer's boss, which, along with the social division, prevents him from proclaiming his love and connecting with them, despite the shared feelings. The singer proclaims that "one fine day, I'll find a way, to move from this old shack," presumably to be able to join the higher class members of society and finally be able to date the girl within the public eye.
Musicians
Session musicians on this recording included Reggie Young on electric guitar, Bill Hullett on acoustic guitar, Sam Levine on horns, Clayton Ivey on piano, Bob Wray on six string bass, and Greg Morrow on drums.
Cover versions
Penny DeHaven's 1969 version reached No. 37 on the Billboard country chart. The song was covered in 1978 by Kenny Loggins on his Nightwatch album, and twice in 1980, first by Ry Cooder, included it on his album, Borderline and by D.L. Byron, featuring backing vocals by Billy Joel. It was also recorded by Depeche Mode member Martin Gore for his first solo CD Counterfeit E.P. in 1989 but was ultimately left out of the final track listing. In 2012 the band U.S. Girls covered the song on their album Gem. The country vocal group Home Free covered the song for their album Country Evolution.