Down in the Boondocks (album)

Down in the Boondocks is the second studio album by Billy Joe Royal released in 1965, the same year as his self-titled debut album.

There were three singles released from the album, all reaching the Top 40; the album title track (#9), "I Knew You When" (#14) and "I've Got to Be Somebody" (#38). The album also landed on the Pop Albums chart, peaking at #96.

Track listing

References

Down in the Boondocks

Down in the Boondocks may refer to:

Down in the Boondocks (song)

"Down in the Boondocks" is a song written by Joe South and recorded by American artist Billy Joe Royal. It was a hit in 1965, reaching number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the UK, it hit number 38 on the Record Retailer chart. The song comes from the album Down in the Boondocks.

Content

The song is sung from the perspective of a self-proclaimed "boy from down in the boondocks." He sings of a girl who lives nearby, for whom he feels love and he steals away with occasionally. The people who live or are born in the boondocks are suggested to be a lower class than those in the city. The girl's father is the singer's boss, which, along with the social division, prevents him from proclaiming his love and connecting with them, despite the shared feelings. The singer proclaims that "one fine day, I'll find a way, to move from this old shack," presumably to be able to join the higher class members of society and finally be able to date the girl within the public eye. Session musicians on this recording included Reggie Young on electric guitar, Bill Hullett on acoustic guitar, Sam Levine on horns, Clayton Ivey on piano, Bob Wray on six string bass, and Greg Morrow on drums.