Thank God I’m a Country Boy | Chords + Lyrics
Intro
| N.C (hand claps) | N.C |
Verse 1
| N.C | N.C |
Well, life on the farm is kinda laid back.
| N.C | N.C |
Ain’t much an old country boy like me can’t hack.
| N.C | N.C |2/4 N.C |
It’s early to rise, early in the sack.
|4/4 N.C | N.C |
I thank God I’m a country boy.
Verse 2
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.
Bridge 1
| N.C | N.C |
Well I got me a fine wife I got me an ol’ fiddle.
| N.C | N.C |
When the sun’s comin’ up I got cakes on the griddle.
| N.C | N.C |2/4 N.C |
And life ain’t nothin’ but a funny, funny riddle.
|4/4 N.C | N.C (E F# G#) |
Thank God I’m a country boy.
Verse 3
| A A/E | A D |
When the work’s all done and the sun’s settlin’ low.
| A A/E | G5 D |
I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.
| A F#m | E D | 2/4 D/A |
The kids are asleep so I keep it kinda low.
|4/4 A E | A A/E |
Thank God I’m a country boy.
Verse 4 (as verse 3)
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.
Bridge 2
| E E/B | A A/E |
Well, I got me a fine wife I got me an ol’ fiddle.
| E E/B | A A/E |
When the sun’s comin’ up I got cakes on the griddle.
| A F#m | E D |2/4 D/A |
Life ain’t nothin’ but a funny, funny riddle.
|4/4 A E | A A/E |
Thank God I’m a country boy, woo!
Solo
||: A A/E | A D |
| A A/E | G5 D |
| A F#m | E D |2/4 D/A |
|4/4 A E | A A/E :||
Verse 5 (as verse 3)
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.
Verse 6 (as verse 3)
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.
Bridge 3 (as bridge 2)
Well, I got me a fine wife I got me an 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.
Solo 2
||: A A/E | A D |
| A A/E | G5 D |
| A F#m | E D |2/4 D/A |
|4/4 A E | A A/E :||
Verse 7 (as verse 3)
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”.
Verse 8
| A A/E | A D |
Well, my daddy taught me young how to hunt and how to whittle.
| A A/E | G5 D |
Taught me how to work to play a tune on the fiddle.
| A F#m | E D | D (hold) | D (hold) |
He taught me how to love and how to give just a little.
|4/4 A E A | A A/E |
And thank God I’m a country boy.
Bridge 3
| E E/B | A A/E |
Well, I got me a fine wife I got me an ol’ fiddle.
| E E/B | A A/E |
When the sun’s comin’ up I got cakes on the griddle.
| A F#m | E D | D (hold) | D (hold) |
Life ain’t nothin’ but a funny, funny riddle.
| N.C | N.C |
Woo, thank God I’m a country boy, yes!
Outro
||: A A/E | A D |
| A A/E | G5 D |
| A F#m | E D |2/4 D/A |
|4/4 A E | A A/E :||
Thank God I’m a Country Boy Chords: Learn the progressions
For the practising guitarist, Thank God I’m A Country Boy‘s chords provide a great lesson in playing fast, alternating bass.
In true country style, there are the occasional 2/4 bars as well to consider so just playing the chords is definitely a challenge.
The verse moves from I – IV – I – bVIIx – IV. It’s the bVIIx chord that provides the tension (some people call this a backdoor dominant).
The second half goes I – VI – V – IV, then a 2/4 bar of a V chord. Finish off on I – V – I, like this:
| A (I) A/E | A D (IV) |
| A A/E | G5 (bVIIx) D |
| A F#m (VI) | E (V) D | 2/4 D/A |
|4/4 A E | A A/E |
The bridge or maybe it should be called a chorus (?), moves from V – I on repeat before it’s the same as the second half of the verse, like this:
| E (V) E/B | A (I) A/E |
| E E/B | A A/E |
| A F#m | E D | 2/4 D/A |
|4/4 A E | A A/E |
As long as you get all the alternating bass lines and time signatures right, playing Thank God I’m A Country Boy’s chords will sound great. But if you miss a beat, it’ll all fall apart.
To help you, I’ve designed some TAB to follow which you can simply practice to a metronome, gradually increasing the speed before playing along with the original recording(s).
Here’s a link to the TAB lesson: Thank God I’m a Country Boy – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Once you got the hang of it, a simple chord chart is all you need to remind you of Thank God I’m A Country Boy’s chords, here’s one I made for you.
Thank God I’m A Country Boy Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro
Should you want to download this chart, here’s a PDF: Thank God I’m A Country Boy Chord Chart PDF.
This chord chart was created using iReal Pro, here’s a link to that file: Thank God I’m A Country Boy iReal Pro. Using this and the iRealPro app, you can change the key.
Thank God I’m A Country Boy, the tune that worked better live!
John Denver‘s Thank God I’m A Country Boy is a great example of a classic, fast and fun country tune to play.
Released in 1974 on Back Home Again, it was the live version that came the following year which was a hit. Most likely, this is down to how the feeling of the tune came across better live.
I’ve found this to be true with almost all lighthearted songs, you need to hear the audience and also the performer seems to be more relaxed which puts the message across with the right tone.
Another great example of this would be Johnny Cash‘s A Boy Named Sue which on Spotify has 5 live versions, no studio version even exists!
This is a top tip if you’re a comedy songwriter, scrap that studio version!
Thank God I’m a Country Boy Chords | Related Pages
Thank God I’m A Country Boy | Guitar Lesson + TAB
In this lesson, you find a chord progression analysis and TAB including alternating bass lines and time signature changes for playing Thank God I’m A Country Boy.
| A A/E | A D |
When the work’s all done and the sun’s settlin’ low…
Five similar tunes | Chords + Lyrics
- Bad Moon Rising chords by Creedence Clearwater Revival
- Jolene chords by Dolly Parton
- Ring Of Fire chords by Johnny Cash
- Take It Easy chords by the Eagles
- Take Me Home, Country Roads chords by John Denver
John Denver tunes
Country legend John Denver had his golden years during the late 60s and early 70s as he was recording other people’s tunes and writing his own.
His best work includes Leaving, on A Jet Plane, Take Me Home, Country Roads, Annie’s Song, and Thank God I’m a Country Boy.
John Denver on the web
About me | Dan Lundholm
This was a guitar lesson about Thank God I’m a Country Boy chords, by Dan Lundholm. Discover more about him and how you can learn guitar with Spytunes.
Most importantly, find out why you should learn guitar through playing tunes, not practising scales, and studying theory in isolation.
