Come Back as a Country Boy explained

Come Back as a Country Boy
Cover:Come Back as a Country Boy.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Blake Shelton
Album:Body Language
Genre:Country rock[1]
Length:3:41
Label:Warner
Producer:Scott Hendricks
Prev Title:Then a Girl Walks In
Prev Year:2021
Next Title:No Body
Next Year:2022

"Come Back as a Country Boy" is a song by American country music singer Blake Shelton. It was released on October 1, 2021, as third single from the deluxe version of his twelfth studio album Body Language. The song was written by Jordan Schmidt, Josh Thompson and Michael Hardy, and produced by Scott Hendricks.[2]

Background and content

On September 29, 2021, Shelton posted a video on Twitter of a bonfire nearby a lake with the caption: "Oh the sweet sounds of new music coming."[3] In a press release, Shelton explained: ""Come Back as a Country Boy" is a song about just having so much pride about being country and living the country lifestyle that, even if you come back to life, you wouldn't do it unless you could be country again... If you can't do it again — if you're lucky enough to come back to life — you'd rather just stay dead."[4] "I think this song is an anthem for everyday hardworking country people out there, we have so much pride in who we are and what we do that, if we ever died and got the chance to live life over again, we probably wouldn't do it if we couldn't be country."[5]

Critical reception

Chris Parton of Sounds Like Nashville called the song reminiscent of Shelton's "God's Country" (2019), writing that it "mixes chest-thumping grit with stand-your-ground attitude and a comforting melody that almost feels like a lullaby".[1]

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"
Position
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[6] 43
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[7] 52

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormatLabel
VariousOctober 1, 2021Warner Records Nashville[8]
United StatesOctober 4, 2021Country radio[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Blake Shelton Stands His Ground in Fiery 'Come Back As a Country Boy'. Sounds Like Nashville. Parton. Chris. October 1, 2021. October 30, 2021.
  2. Web site: Blake Shelton to Release New Single "Come Back as a Country Boy; Announces Deluxe Album. Americansongwriter. Konicki. Lisa. September 30, 2021. October 30, 2021.
  3. Blakeshelton. 1442920902774034432. Oh the sweet sounds of new music coming... September 29, 2021. October 30, 2021.
  4. Web site: Story Behind the Song: Blake Shelton, 'Come Back as a Country Boy'. The Boot. Stefano. Angela. October 5, 2021. October 30, 2021.
  5. Web site: Blake Shelton Announces New Single, 'Come Back As A Country Boy,' and Deluxe Album. Country Now. Jo Black. Lauren. September 29, 2021. October 30, 2021.
  6. Web site: Country Airplay – Year-End 2022. Billboard. December 1, 2022.
  7. Web site: Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2022. Billboard. December 1, 2022.
  8. Web site: Come Back As A Country Boy - Blake Shelton. Amazon. October 30, 2021.
  9. Web site: Future Releases for Country Radio Stations. All Access. October 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211001131004/https://www.allaccess.com/country/future-releases. October 1, 2021.