When it comes to popular songs about reincarnation, we've had Stevie Wonder hope to come back as a flower and, on the country music side of the spectrum, the guy in "Highwayman" cycled through enough lives to become a starship captain.
On Blake Shelton's new single "Come Back as a Country Boy," the country hitmaker and The Voice coach reckons he'd rather have another go as Blake Shelton than experience life as someone who isn't from Oklahoma and doesn't know the words to every Hank Williams Jr. song.
Musically, it adds a little oomph to the Southern (or Southwestern) Gothic vibe that made "God's Country" different from everything else coming out of Nashville.
Its music video arrived on Nov. 10. What at first comes across as a surreal homage to Criterion Collection film Armageddon (and Shelton's audition to be the Marvel Cinematic Universe's next Human Torch) gives way to gorgeous footage of the country singer's rustic lifestyle.
Read More: 'American Idol' Alum Alex Miller Shares Tradition-Grounded Single 'Don't Let the Barn Door Hit Ya'
Shelton and his band, including fiddler and Musician of the Year winner Jenee Fleenor, performed the song on the same day as its music video release at the 2021 CMA Awards.
Jordan Schmidt, Josh Thompson and Michael Hardy co-wrote the single, which will appear on the deluxe edition of Shelton's Body Language album (out Dec. 3).
The new track follows the success of Shelton's Top 10 hit "Minimum Wage" and his chart-topping duet with wife Gwen Stefani, "Happy Anywhere."
"Come Back as a Country Boy" Lyrics
When I die, I wanna come back as a country boy
No, there ain't no better life if you ask me
If my neck don't come out red, then Lord, just keep me dead
'Cause a country boy's all that I know how to be
My back is always breaking, my dogs are always barking
My money has trouble making and my truck has trouble starting
I'm up before the sun, either hauling hay or hunting
My work ain't ever done, but son, I wouldn't trade it for nothing
So when I die I wanna come back as a country boy
No, there ain't no better life if you ask me
If my neck don't come out red, then Lord, just keep me dead
'Cause a country boy's all that I know how to be
Yeah, if y'all ain't in my drawl and a fish ain't on my wall
And the whiskey don't burn going down
My feet ain't in a holler, and blue ain't on my collar
Leave my Hank-cranking, beer-drinking ass in the ground
Yeah, when I die I wanna come back as a country boy
No, there ain't no better life if you ask me
If my neck don't come out red, then Lord, just keep me dead
'Cause a country boy's all that I know how to be
When I die I wanna come back as a country boy
Live on this land like my old man did before me
I don't wanna be born into money, where the boots don't ever get muddy
'Cause a country boy's all that I know how to be
When I die I wanna come back as a country boy
No, there ain't no better life if you ask me
If my neck don't come out red, then Lord, just keep me dead
'Cause a country boy's all that I know how to be
Yeah, a country boy's all that I know how to be
