Come Back as a Country Boy

"Come Back as a Country Boy" is a song by American country music singer Blake Shelton. It was released on October 1, 2021, as the 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]

"Come Back as a Country Boy"
Single by Blake Shelton
from the album Body Language
Released	October 1, 2021 (2021-10-01)
Genre	Country rock[1]
Length	3:41
Label	Warner
Songwriter(s)	Jordan Schmidt Josh Thompson Michael Hardy
Producer(s)	Scott Hendricks
Blake Shelton singles chronology
"Then a Girl Walks In" (2021) "Come Back as a Country Boy" (2021) "No Body" (2022)
Music video
"Come Back as a Country Boy" on YouTube

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

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Come Back as a Country Boy" Chart (2021–2022) Peak position Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[6] 55 Canada Country (Billboard)[7] 3 US Billboard Hot 100[8] 81 US Country Airplay (Billboard)[9] 12 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[10] 18

Year-end charts 2022 year-end chart performance for "Come Back as a Country Boy" Chart (2022) Position US Country Airplay (Billboard)[11] 43 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[12] 52

Release history

Release history for "Come Back as a Country Boy"

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Various	October 1, 2021	Digital download streaming	Warner Records Nashville	[13]
United States	October 4, 2021	Country radio		[14]

References

1. Parton, Chris (October 1, 2021). "Blake Shelton Stands His Ground in Fiery 'Come Back As a Country Boy'". Sounds Like Nashville. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
2. Konicki, Lisa (September 30, 2021). "Blake Shelton to Release New Single "Come Back as a Country Boy; Announces Deluxe Album". Americansongwriter. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
3. @Blakeshelton (September 29, 2021). "Oh the sweet sounds of new music coming." (Tweet). Retrieved October 30, 2021 – via Twitter.
4. Stefano, Angela (October 5, 2021). "Story Behind the Song: Blake Shelton, 'Come Back as a Country Boy'". The Boot. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
5. Jo Black, Lauren (September 29, 2021). "Blake Shelton Announces New Single, 'Come Back As A Country Boy,' and Deluxe Album". Country Now. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
6. "Blake Shelton Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
7. "Blake Shelton Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
8. "Blake Shelton Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
9. "Blake Shelton Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
10. "Blake Shelton Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
11. "Country Airplay – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
12. "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
13. "Come Back As A Country Boy - Blake Shelton". Retrieved October 30, 2021 – via Amazon.
14. "Future Releases for Country Radio Stations". All Access. Archived from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2021.