Thank God I 'm a Country Boy - wikipedia Thank God I 'm a Country Boy `` Thank God I 'm a Country Boy '' Single by John Denver from the album An Evening with John Denver B - side `` My Sweet Lady '' Released March 1975 Format 7 '' Recorded August 26, 1974 Genre Country folk Length 3 : 40 2 : 47 ( single edit ) Label RCA Records Songwriter ( s ) John Martin Sommers Producer ( s ) Milton Okun John Denver singles chronology `` Sweet Surrender '' ( 1975 ) `` Thank God I 'm a Country Boy '' ( 1975 ) `` I 'm Sorry '' ( 1975 ) Audio sample file help `` Thank God I 'm a Country Boy '' Single by Billy Dean from the album Let Them Be Little Released Genre Country Label Curb Songwriter ( s ) John Martin Sommers Producer ( s ) Ray Barnette, Billy Dean, Lari White Billy Dean singles chronology `` I 'm in Love with You '' ( 2004 ) `` Thank God I 'm a Country Boy '' ( 2004 ) `` Let Them Be Little '' ( 2004 ) `` Thank God I 'm a Country Boy '', also known as `` Country Boy '', is a song written by John Martin Sommers and recorded by American singer / songwriter John Denver. The song was originally included on Denver 's 1974 album Back Home Again. A version recorded live on August 26, 1974, at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles was included on his 1975 album An Evening with John Denver. The live version was released as a single and went to No. 1 on both the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles and Billboard Hot 100 charts. The song topped both charts for one week each, first the country chart ( on May 31 ), and the Hot 100 chart a week later. Thank God I 'm a Country Boy also became the name of a variety special show hosted by Denver in 1977. `` Thank God I 'm a Country Boy '' was one of six songs released in 1975 that topped both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Hot Country Singles charts. Denver 's two - sided hit `` I 'm Sorry '' / `` Calypso '' also received that distinction. Contents 1 Background 2 Content 3 Structure 4 Chart performance 4.1 John Denver version 4.2 Billy Dean version 5 Cover versions 6 In popular culture 7 References 8 External links Background The song was written by John Martin Sommers, a guitar / banjo / fiddle / mandolin player in Denver 's backup band, on December 31, 1973 ( coincidentally Denver 's thirtieth birthday ) when he was driving from his home in Aspen, Colorado to Los Angeles. The song is remarkably similar to a 1973 song by Arlo Guthrie, from his album `` Last of the Brooklyn Cowboys '', entitled `` Uncle Jeff. '' Content Sommers recalls that at the time he was feeling `` peaceful, happy and content '' with his lot in life, and started scribbling some notes about his blissful state along the way. They served as the inspiration for the song. Structure This section possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. ( October 2016 ) The song is in cut ( 2 / 2 ) time that is typical of two - step. Both the verse and chorus comprise eight measures with 3 / 2 added between the first four measures and last three measures. Emotionally, this creates an intended slight stall. The instrumental breaks in the song incorporate a violin playing the old fiddle tune Sally Goodin, which is also referenced in the song 's lyrics : `` I 'd play Sally Goodin all day if I could... '' Chart performance John Denver version Chart ( 1975 ) Peak position US Billboard Hot 100 US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) 5 US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) Canadian RPM Top Singles Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks Canadian RPM Country Tracks Yugoslavian Singles Charts Billy Dean version Chart ( 2004 ) Peak position US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) 27 Cover versions A cover version was released by country music artist Billy Dean in 2004 ; Dean 's cover peaked at No. 27 on the Billboard U.S. Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. A Western version was recorded by Alvin and the Chipmunks for their 1981 album Urban Chipmunk. Canadian country music artist Brad Johner did a cover on his 2003 album Free. Canadian Country rock group The Road Hammers recorded a version for their 2009 album The Road Hammers II. Hampton the Hampster performs a cover of the song on Hampsterdance Hits in 2001. Christian group Point of Grace has been performing a cover of the song in recent concerts, calling it `` Thank God I 'm a Country Girl. '' Australian Lee Kernaghan performs a cover of the song. Swedish eurodance / pop band Rednex recorded cover as B - side song for their 2008 single `` Football Is Our Religion '' Finnish folk / country band Finntrio recorded a Finnish language translation Kyllä maalla on mukavaa of the song. Branson, Missouri - based band The Haygoods covered the song Dolly Parton has occasionally performed a bluegrass arrangement of the song in her concerts ; she also performed the song on an episode of her mid-70s variety show Dolly ! The German cover band Village Girls covered it under the h `` Thank God I 'm a Country Girl '' In popular culture The song 's live version has been played during the seventh inning stretch at Baltimore Orioles home games beginning in the summer of 1975 and without interruption since 1994. Denver performed it in person atop the Orioles dugout in Game 1 of the 1983 World Series and again fourteen years later during a 12 -- 8 victory over the Detroit Tigers on September 20, 1997, just 22 days prior to his death. The song is also played during the seventh - inning stretch at Atlanta Braves, Buffalo Bisons, and Vanderbilt Commodores games. It is also played regularly at Montana Grizzlies, Washington Glory, Calgary Flames, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche, Spokane Chiefs, and Spokane Indians home games. The American version Country Bear Vacation Hoedown has used the song `` Thank God I 'm a Country Bear '' as the show 's finale. In Stephen King 's novel The Dead Zone, `` Thank God I 'm a Country Boy '' is played at a televised rally for rising politician and antagonist Greg Stillson. Jim Nabors performed `` Thank God I 'm a Country Boy '' when he appeared on The Muppet Show in 1976. Featured in the stage musical, Priscilla Queen of the Desert -- the Musical The song was parodied by the Capitol Steps during the Iran - Contra Scandal as `` Thank God I 'm A Contra Boy '' featuring disgraced military official Oliver North. References Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2011 - 07 - 31. Retrieved 2011 - 07 - 31. CS1 maint : Archived copy as title ( link ) Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2004 ). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits : 1944 - 2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 103. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2004 ). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits : Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 173. Jump up ^ Smith, Dean. `` Baltimore ? s Seventh - Inning Tradition Within a Tradition ''. Pressboxonline.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 10. Jump up ^ `` John Denver Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` John Denver Chart History ( Adult Contemporary ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` John Denver Chart History ( Hot Country Songs ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Billy Dean Chart History ( Hot Country Songs ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ iTunes : Village Girls - Thank God I 'm a Country Girl Jump up ^ Cowherd, Kevin. `` 7th - inning stretch belonged to Denver Orioles : Time after time, ' Thank God I 'm a Country Boy ' got the stadium rocking. And when the man himself joined in, it was magic, '' The Baltimore Sun, Tuesday, October 14, 1997 External links John Sommers official website Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Baltimore Orioles Established in 1901 Formerly the Milwaukee Brewers and the St. Louis Browns Based in Baltimore, Maryland Franchise History in St. Louis History in Baltimore Seasons No - hitters Records Players Managers Owners and executives Broadcasters Opening Day starting pitchers First - round draft picks Ballparks Borchert Field Lloyd Street Grounds Sportsman 's Park Memorial Stadium Oriole Park at Camden Yards Spring training Majestic Park West End Park Coffee Pot Park Wright Field Tech Field Perris Hill Park City Island Ball Park Miami Stadium Ed Smith Stadium Al Lang Stadium Fort Lauderdale Stadium Ed Smith Stadium Culture Hall of Fame `` Thank God I 'm a Country Boy '' Baltimore Chop `` The Letter '' ( Seinfeld episode ) Lore Jeffrey Maier Miracle Mets 1910 Chalmers Award Wild Bill Hagy 1999 Cuban national baseball team exhibition 2015 crowdless game Rivalries Washington Nationals Key personnel Owner : Peter Angelos Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations : Vacant Manager : Vacant World Series championships ( 3 ) 1966 1970 American League pennants ( 7 ) 1944 1966 1969 1970 1971 1979 AL East division titles ( 9 ) 1969 1970 1971 1973 1979 1997 2014 AL Wild Card ( 3 ) 2012 2016 Minor league affiliates AAA : Norfolk Tides AA : Bowie Baysox A Adv. : Frederick Keys A : Delmarva Shorebirds Short A : Aberdeen IronBirds Rookie : GCL Orioles DSL Orioles Broadcasting TV Mid-Atlantic Sports Network Radio Orioles Radio Network Announcers Gary Thorne Jim Hunter Jim Palmer Rick Dempsey Mike Bordick Seasons ( 118 ) 1900s 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910s 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920s 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930s 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940s 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950s 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960s 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970s 1970 1971 1972 1973 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980s 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 1990s 1997 1998 1999 2000s 2010s 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Category Commons Portal John Denver Studio albums John Denver Sings Rhymes & Reasons Take Me to Tomorrow Whose Garden Was This Poems, Prayers & Promises Aerie Rocky Mountain High Farewell Andromeda Back Home Again Windsong Spirit I Want to Live John Denver Autograph Some Days Are Diamonds Seasons of the Heart It 's About Time Dreamland Express One World Higher Ground Earth Songs The Flower That Shattered the Stone Different Directions Love Again All Aboard ! Live albums An Evening with John Denver Live in London Live at the Sydney Opera House The Wildlife Concert The Best of John Denver Live Sing Australia Christmas in Concert The Harbor Lights Concert Live in the U.S.S.R. Live at Cedar Rapids Specialty albums Rocky Mountain Christmas A Christmas Together Rocky Mountain Holiday Christmas, Like a Lullaby Forever, John Compilation albums John Denver 's Greatest Hits John Denver 's Greatest Hits Volume 2 John Denver 's Greatest Hits Volume 3 The Very Best of John Denver John Denver : A Portrait The John Denver Collection Something to Sing About 16 Biggest Hits Tribute albums The Music Is You : A Tribute to John Denver Singles `` Take Me Home, Country Roads '' `` Rocky Mountain High '' `` Sunshine on My Shoulders '' `` Annie 's Song '' `` Back Home Again '' `` Sweet Surrender '' `` Thank God I 'm a Country Boy '' `` I 'm Sorry '' `` Calypso '' `` Fly Away '' `` Looking for Space '' `` Like a Sad Song '' `` Some Days Are Diamonds ( Some Days Are Stone ) '' `` The Cowboy and the Lady '' `` Perhaps Love '' `` Shanghai Breezes '' `` Dreamland Express '' `` And So It Goes '' Related articles Discography Filmography Perhaps Love `` Leaving on a Jet Plane '' Category Billy Dean Studio albums Young Man Billy Dean Fire in the Dark Men 'll Be Boys It 's What I Do Real Man Let Them Be Little Compilation albums Greatest Hits Notable singles `` Only Here for a Little While '' `` Somewhere in My Broken Heart '' `` You Do n't Count the Cost '' `` Only the Wind '' `` Billy the Kid '' `` If There Had n't Been You '' `` Tryin ' to Hide a Fire in the Dark '' `` I Wanna Take Care of You '' `` I 'm Not Built That Way '' `` We Just Disagree '' `` Cowboy Band '' `` It 's What I Do '' `` That Girl 's Been Spyin ' on Me '' `` I Would n't Be a Man '' `` Real Man '' `` Thank God I 'm a Country Boy '' `` Let Them Be Little '' Guest singles `` Buy Me a Rose '' Related articles Discography Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thank_God_I%27m_a_Country_Boy&oldid=865761891 '' Categories : 1975 singles 2004 singles Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles Billboard Hot Country Songs number - one singles John Denver songs Billy Dean songs Baltimore Orioles RPM Country Tracks number - one singles RPM Country Tracks number - one singles of the year Live singles RCA Records singles Curb Records singles Song recordings produced by Milt Okun 1974 songs Hidden categories : CS1 maint : Archived copy as title Articles with hAudio microformats Articles that may contain original research from October 2016 All articles that may contain original research Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboardadultcontemporary Singlechart usages for Billboardcountrysongs Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 26 October 2018, at 00 : 08 ( UTC ). 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Question: who sings thank god i'm a country boy
Answer: John Martin Sommers