I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool
Kenny Chesney & Reba McEntire Lyrics

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I Was Country When Country Wasn′t Cool
Reba McEntire/Kenny Chesney

I remember wearin' straight leg Levis
Flannel Shirts Even When
They weren′t in style.
I remember singin' with Roy Rogers
At the movies when the

West was really wild.

And I was listenin' to the Opry
When all of My Friends
Were Diggin′ Rock ′n Roll
And Rhythm & Blues
I Was Country,
When Country Wasn't Cool.

I remember circlin′ the drive-in,
Pullin' up and turnin′ down George Jones.
I remember when no one was lookin'
I was puttin′ peanuts in My Coke.

I took a lot of kiddin'
'Cause I never did fit in
Now look at everybody,
Tryin′ to be what I was then.
I Was Country,
When Country Wasn′t Cool.

I Was Country,
When Country Wasn't Cool.
I Was Country,
From My hat down to My boots.
I still act, And look the same,
What You see ain′t nothin' new.

I Was Country,
When Country Wasn′t Cool.

Overall Meaning

The song "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" by Reba McEntire and Kenny Chesney is an anthem about being true to oneself and staying authentic even when it's not popular. The lyrics take the listener on a trip down memory lane with the singer remembering a time when country music wasn't mainstream and was looked down upon in favor of rock and roll and rhythm and blues. The singer reminisces about wearing straight-legged jeans and flannel shirts when they weren't in style, listening to the Opry while others were into rock and roll, and going to drive-in theaters while listening to George Jones.

The song is a tribute to the early days of country music, and it encourages listeners to embrace their roots and honor their heritage, even if it's not currently in fashion. The chorus repeats the phrase "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" to reiterate the importance of staying true to oneself and avoiding the temptation to follow trends.

The song's message resonated with audiences, making it a hit on the country charts. Its catchy melody and relatable lyrics made it appealing to a wide range of listeners, cementing its status as a classic country song.

Line by Line Meaning

I remember wearin' straight leg Levis
I recall wearing classic straight-leg Levis even when they weren't very popular or trendy.

Flannel Shirts Even When They weren′t in style.
I wore flannel shirts even when they weren't fashionable or in style.

I remember singin' with Roy Rogers At the movies when the West was really wild.
I remember having fun singing with Roy Rogers when Western movies were wildly popular.

And I was listenin' to the Opry When all of My Friends Were Diggin′ Rock ′n Roll And Rhythm & Blues I Was Country, When Country Wasn't Cool.
While my friends were into rock and roll and other music styles, I was listening to the Grand Ole Opry and sticking to classic country music, even when it wasn't the popular choice.

I remember circlin′ the drive-in, Pullin' up and turnin' down George Jones. I remember when no one was lookin' I was puttin′ peanuts in My Coke.
I remember driving around the drive-in with friends, turning down rock music for George Jones, and secretly putting peanuts in my Coke when no one was watching.

I took a lot of kiddin' 'Cause I never did fit in Now look at everybody, Tryin′ to be what I was then.
I was often teased for not fitting in with the trends, but now I see everyone trying to emulate what I was doing back then.

I Was Country, When Country Wasn′t Cool.
I was one of the few people who stuck to classic country music even when it wasn't in vogue or popular.

I Was Country, From My hat down to My boots.
My love for country music went beyond just listening, it was also reflected in my fashion choices, from my hat down to my boots.

I still act, And look the same, What You see ain′t nothin' new.
Even though years have passed, I still have the same passion for country music, and my appearance and attitude remain consistent.

I Was Country, When Country Wasn′t Cool.
Again, I was one of the few people who stayed true to classic country even when it wasn't popular or considered trendy.

Writer(s): Fleming Kye, Morgan Dennis W

Contributed by Grace W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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