From the year 2001 to 2004, Cyrus starred in the television show Doc. The show was about a country doctor who moved from Montana to New York City. In late 2005, he also began to co-star in the Disney Channel series, Hannah Montana, with daughter Miley Cyrus. The show has been on the air for three seasons.
The I'm American Songfacts reports that Billy Ray Cyrus’ twelfth studio album, I'm American is a collection of patriotic songs. It was initially scheduled to be released in November 2010, but after being pushed back numerous times, it finally came out on June 28, 2011.
Thrillbilly
Billy Ray Cyrus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Drivin' to your girlfriend's on a backhoe
Goin' skinny-dippin' on an old wood dock
Startin' up a bonfire with gasoline
Seein' who can get higher on a rope swing
Burnin' up your new tires in the parking lot
Let me tell you right now
[Chorus]
That's thrillbilly
Real hillbilly
That's thrillbilly
'Till the cows come home
That's down-home style
Mixed with buck wild
So get on down and you'll be proud
Of how you roll
That's thrillbilly
That's thrillbilly
Flippin' off a barn roof into a haystack
Sippin' on some home brew sittin' outback
Thinkin' it'd be cool to build a submarine
Dragin' down a two lane with your lights off
Hoppin' on a freight train at a feed lot
Raisin' you some bi cain- in John Deere green
Here's come Bubba on his four-wheeler
"Hey man, y'all watch this"
[Chorus]
Oh, hillbilly
Come on, come on
[Chorus]
Oh, hillbilly
So get on down and you'll be proud
Of how you roll.
The song Thrillbilly by Billy Ray Cyrus is an ode to the reckless, carefree and dangerous lifestyle of those living in the rural and remote areas of America. The lyrics paint a picture of activities that are dangerous, wild, and often illegal, but are pursued anyway due to the thrill they offer. The line "Shootin' at a beer can on a fence post" suggests that people living in the countryside are often bored and would resort to anything to keep themselves entertained, even if it's shooting a beer can for target practice. The line "Startin' up a bonfire with gasoline" speaks to the fact that they live in areas where there are no strict regulations, which allows them to engage in activities that would otherwise be deemed dangerous or illegal. The song also makes reference to other reckless activities such as racing and driving vehicles without lights and skinny dipping.
The chorus, "That's thrillbilly, real hillbilly, that's thrillbilly 'til the cows come home", suggests that this lifestyle is inherent to people living in rural areas and that they take pride in it. They see themselves as thrill-seekers who are not afraid to take risks and engage in adrenaline-pumping activities. The lines "Mixed with buck wild, so get on down and you'll be proud of how you roll" reinforces the idea that those living in rural areas embrace their lifestyle and take pride in it.
Line by Line Meaning
Shootin' at a beer can on a fence post
Firing a gun at a beer can balanced on a fence post
Drivin' to your girlfriend's on a backhoe
Going to see your girlfriend on a large digging machine called a backhoe
Goin' skinny-dippin' on an old wood dock
Swimming naked in a lake or river on a wooden dock
Startin' up a bonfire with gasoline
Lighting a large fire with gasoline as fuel
Seein' who can get higher on a rope swing
Competing to swing higher on a rope tied to a tree branch
Burnin' up your new tires in the parking lot
Spinning the wheels of a vehicle, causing the tires to smoke and burn rubber in a parking lot
Flippin' off a barn roof into a haystack
Jumping off the top of a barn onto a pile of hay
Sippin' on some home brew sittin' outback
Drinking homemade alcohol while sitting outside
Thinkin' it'd be cool to build a submarine
Imagining constructing an underwater vessel for fun
Dragin' down a two lane with your lights off
Driving fast down a two-lane country road with headlights turned off
Hoppin' on a freight train at a feed lot
Jumping onto a train that carries cargo at a livestock feed station
Raisin' you some bi cain- in John Deere green
Growing some sugar cane, which has a color similar to that of a John Deere tractor
Here's come Bubba on his four-wheeler
Someone named Bubba is approaching riding an all-terrain vehicle
"Hey man, y'all watch this"
Bubba is performing an action that he thinks is impressive and wants others to watch
That's thrillbilly
All the aforementioned activities are examples of "thrillbilly," a term that describes a mixture of hillbilly and wild or dangerous behavior
Real hillbilly
Thrillbilly is a genuine part of hillbilly culture
That's down-home style
All of these activities are typical to rural areas, where people live "down-home" and lead simple lives
Mixed with buck wild
However, the thrill-seeking element of thrillbilly adds a "buck wild" aspect to this down-home style of living
So get on down and you'll be proud
If you participate in thrillbilly activities, you will be proud
Of how you roll
You will be proud of how you conduct yourself and your lifestyle
Oh, hillbilly
The song celebrates hillbilly culture and encourages the listener to embrace this way of life
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: MARTIN DODSON, DANNY ORTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind