In 2001, he made his debut with the single "Austin". The lead-off single from his self-titled debut album, "Austin" spent five weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The now Platinum-certified debut album also produced two more top 20 entries ("All Over Me" and "Ol' Red").
His second and third albums, 2003's The Dreamer and 2004's Blake Shelton's Barn & Grill, are gold and platinum, respectively. His fourth album, Pure BS (2007), was re-issued in 2008 with a cover of Michael Bublé's pop hit "Home" as one of the bonus tracks. His fifth album, Startin' Fires was released in November 2008. It was followed by the extended plays Hillbilly Bone and All About Tonight in 2010, and the albums Red River Blue in 2011, Based on a True Story... in 2013, Bringing Back the Sunshine in 2014, If I'm Honest in 2016, Texoma Shore in 2017, and Fully Loaded: God's Country in 2019.
Shelton is a judge on the televised singing competitions Nashville Star, Clash of the Choirs, and a coach on NBC's The Voice. He has been on The Voice since its inception, and, so far, in nine of 22 seasons (2–4, 7, 11, 13, 18, 20, 22), a member of his team has won.
Country Strong
Blake Shelton Lyrics
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Makin that bacon, row by row
Can't get them muscles at the YMCA
It's from choppin' cotton, cuttin' corn and slingin' that hay
Been heavy liftin' since the crack of dawn
No doubt about it that boy's country strong
He's up in the mornin' yawnin' with those work boots on
Blue collar in his blood, backwoods in his bones
No doubt about it that boy's country strong
He wears an old felt hat on his head
Got a saddle for a pillow, and the ground for a bed
Spurs on his heels, reins in his hands
Drivin' cattle, ropin' steers and burnin' his brand
There ain't no lettin' up all day long
No doubt about it that boy's country strong
He's up in the mornin' yawnin' with those work boots on
Workin' like hell 'til the dinner bell brings him back home
Blue collar in his blood, backwoods in his bones
No doubt about it that boy's country strong
Yea behind every good man, there's a woman
She's the one thing that keeps him goin', keeps him goin'
She's up in the mornin' yawnin' with that coffee pot on
Workin' like hell 'til the dinner bell brings him back home
Blue collar in her blood, backwoods in her bones
No doubt about it that girl's country strong
Cowboy's, plowboys, good hearted women
They're all country strong
The song "Country Strong" by Blake Shelton is an ode to the hardworking folks who reside in rural areas of the United States. The main focus of the song is on a man who embodies the definition of being "country strong." The opening lines describe him wearing a "Cat Diesel Power" cap pulled down low, making bacon, row by row, and lifting heavy weights, not from the gym, but from working in the fields, chopping cotton, cutting corn, and slinging hay. The theme of hard work continues throughout the song, as the lyrics highlight the man's dedication to his job from sunrise to sunset, from driving cattle to roping steers, and burning his brand. The repetition of "no doubt about it" emphasizes the man's undeniable strength and work ethic.
In the second half of the song, the focus shifts to the woman behind the man - the one who keeps him going, the one that he comes home to after a long day of work. The lines "behind every good man, there's a woman" and "blue collar in her blood, backwoods in her bones, no doubt about it that girl's country strong" show that the woman is equally as tough and resilient, possessing a strong work ethic.
Overall, "Country Strong" is a tribute to the rural way of life, the hard work, and dedication of those who make their living through manual labor, and the love and support of the partners who stand behind them.
Line by Line Meaning
Cat Diesel Power cap pulled down low
The man is wearing a hat with a specific brand of diesel truck engine, which shows his love and preference of big trucks and diesel engines
Makin that bacon, row by row
He works very hard and he's always busy in the field farming to provide for his family
Can't get them muscles at the YMCA
He didn't get his muscles from working out at the gym, but from doing physically demanding work on the farm
It's from choppin' cotton, cuttin' corn and slingin' that hay
The heavy lifting and hard work he does comes from manual labor tasks like harvesting crops and feeding livestock
Been heavy liftin' since the crack of dawn
He starts working hard as soon as the sun comes up, without taking any breaks throughout the day
No doubt about it that boy's country strong
The man is very strong, hard-working and comes from a rural background. This is a compliment to his character
He's up in the mornin' yawnin' with those work boots on
He always starts his day early and wears his work boots already to get to work
Workin' like hell 'til the dinner bell brings him back home
He works tirelessly throughout the day to provide for his family and only take breaks when it's necessary like for meals
Blue collar in his blood, backwoods in his bones
He comes from a long line of hardworking people who lived in rural areas for generations, and he picked up their traits and lifestyle
He wears an old felt hat on his head
The man prefers practical accessories like an old felt hat, which is more than just a fashion item. It serves as protection from the sun, rain, and other elements while working outside.
Got a saddle for a pillow, and the ground for a bed
He prefers a simple life without luxury. His bed is the ground, and his pillow is a saddle. He sleeps wherever his work takes him.
Spurs on his heels, reins in his hands
The man is a cowboy and enjoys riding horses to herd cattle, which is an integral part of his work.
Drivin' cattle, ropin' steers and burnin' his brand
He works as a cattleman, which involves herding, and branding animals to keep track of them, and which requires skills, and experience.
There ain't no lettin' up all day long
He doesn't take any breaks or rest until the work is done, showing his determination and resilience
Yea behind every good man, there's a woman
A successful man usually has a supportive partner who helps him through challenges and motivates him to succeed in life.
She's the one thing that keeps him goin', keeps him goin'
His wife or partner is instrumental to his success because of her love, support, and encouragement that keeps him motivated to work hard.
She's up in the mornin' yawnin' with that coffee pot on
Just like the man, his partner is also an early riser who wakes up to fix a cup of coffee to help start the day.
Cowboy's, plowboys, good-hearted women
The song praises hardworking people, both men, and women, who are proud of their backgrounds and working-class heritage.
They're all country strong
No matter their gender or profession, the people from rural areas possess a unique strength, resilience and work ethic that allows them to overcome challenges and be successful
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RHETT AKINS, DALLAS DAVIDSON, BEN HAYSLIP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind