Besides these two songs, five more of Montgomery's singles have reached the top of the country charts: "I Love the Way You Love Me", "Be My Baby Tonight", "If You've Got Love", "I Can Love You Like That", and "The Little Girl", while thirteen more have reached Top Ten. Montgomery's recordings of "I Swear" and "I Can Love You Like That" were both released concurrently with R&B versions by the group All-4-One. Montgomery has also released eleven studio albums, counting a Christmas album.
John Michael joined the family band (which also included his brother, Eddie Montgomery, who would later join Troy Gentry in the duo Montgomery Gentry) as guitarist before taking the lead singing role when his parents divorced. Afterwards, he made a frugal living on the local honky-tonk scene as a solo artist playing what he referred to as "working man's country." Eventually, Atlantic Records signed him.
Country Thang
John Michael Montgomery Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shotgun wavin', long-neck drinkin',
Huntin' and a-fishin', workin' and a-wishin' for the weekend.
We say: "Yes Ma'am, No Ma'am, Sir, can a lend a hand?"
Take a stand for somethin' we believe in.
Love an' pray and do anythin' for a good friend.
Old folks, dirt roads windin' and a-turnin',
To a muddy creek; jumpin' from a tall tree into the deep end.
That's a country thang.
People who don't live it just might think we've gone insane.
But though the folks down home, we can stand right up and say:
It's a country thang.
We like moonlight sippin', late skinny-dippin'.
Flat rock skippin', catfish hittin'.
Sittin' on a creek-bank, sun's up but we ain't leavin'.
We like country twang and good southern rockin',
Fun in the sun on the bass boat dockin'.
Home made wine an' a mess of fish pie an' then a hot jam.
Got Gran'mas, gran'pas, newborn young 'uns;
Double wide homes an' double first cousins.
An old town square an' a county fair: it's a good plan.
It's a country thang.
People who don't live it just might think we've gone insane.
But though the folks down home, we can stand right up and say:
It's a country thang.
It's a country thang.
People who don't live it just might think we've gone insane.
But though the folks back home, we can stand right up and say:
It's a country thang.
It's a country thang.
It's a country thang.
That's right!
The lyrics to John Michael Montgomery's song "Country Thang" paint a vivid picture of the quintessential Southern lifestyle. The song celebrates the unique characteristics of rural living and highlights several activities that embody the essence of country living. The opening lines describe the backwoods, Dixie lifestyle, complete with shotgun-waving and long-neck drinking. The lyrics go on to mention hunting, fishing, and working hard during the week, all in anticipation of the weekend.
The chorus emphasizes that the country thang is not something that can be easily understood by outsiders who may think it's insane. But for those who live it, it's a way of life that's worth celebrating. The song also highlights the importance of community in the Southern lifestyle. The lyrics refer to helping a neighbor, taking a stand for something you believe in, and doing anything for a good friend. The sentiment is echoed in lines such as "Love and pray and do anything for a good friend" and "Got Gran'mas, gran'pas, newborn young 'uns, double wide homes, and double first cousins."
Overall, "Country Thang" is a tribute to a way of life that values simplicity, community, and the small pleasures that come with living in the South.
Line by Line Meaning
We're backwoods Dixie, flat woods pickin', Shotgun wavin', long-neck drinkin', Huntin' and a-fishin', workin' and a-wishin' for the weekend.
We are from rural areas of the southern U.S. and enjoy playing and listening to a type of country music that uses acoustic instruments. We use shotguns and drink beer, and also enjoy hunting and fishing while working hard during the week and looking forward to the weekend.
We say: "Yes Ma'am, No Ma'am, Sir, can a lend a hand?" Take a stand for somethin' we believe in. Love an' pray and do anythin' for a good friend.
We are polite and respectful towards others, and will stand up for our beliefs. We value our friendships and will do anything to support them, whether that means expressing love, praying, or offering help.
We like camp fires burnin', buttermilk churnin', Old folks, dirt roads windin' and a-turnin', To a muddy creek; jumpin' from a tall tree into the deep end.
We enjoy sitting around a campfire and churning butter. We appreciate the history and traditions of our rural communities, including the winding dirt roads and jumping into a muddy creek from a tall tree.
That's a country thang. People who don't live it just might think we've gone insane. But though the folks down home, we can stand right up and say: It's a country thang.
These activities may seem unusual or even crazy to those outside of our culture, but we embrace our way of life and proudly call it a "country thing".
We like moonlight sippin', late skinny-dippin'. Flat rock skippin', catfish hittin'. Sittin' on a creek-bank, sun's up but we ain't leavin'.
We enjoy spending time outdoors, whether that means drinking by moonlight or going skinny dipping. We appreciate simple pleasures like skipping rocks and catching fish, and sometimes we're having so much fun that we don't want to leave.
We like country twang and good southern rockin', Fun in the sun on the bass boat dockin'. Home made wine an' a mess of fish pie an' then a hot jam.
We enjoy listening to country and southern rock music while having fun in the sun on a docked bass boat. We also appreciate homemade food and drink, such as wine and fish pie, and making music together.
Got Gran'mas, gran'pas, newborn young 'uns; Double wide homes an' double first cousins. An old town square an' a county fair: it's a good plan.
Our families include grandparents, grandchildren, and even newborns. Sometimes our homes are larger and we have many cousins. We enjoy the sense of community in small town life, with town squares and county fairs bringing people together.
It's a country thang. People who don't live it just might think we've gone insane. But though the folks down home, we can stand right up and say: It's a country thang.
Once again, we acknowledge that those outside our culture may not understand our way of life, but we are proud of our traditions and will defend them to others who don't understand.
Lyrics © Round Hill Music Big Loud Songs
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