Good ol' boy
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Good ol' boy is a slang term used, either to self-identify as or to refer to a male, usually white and of Northern/Western-European descent, who lives in a rural area and/or subscribes to a traditionally "rural" lifestyle. The term is generally thought to originate in the rural areas of the southern and southwestern U.S. While other terms such as redneck, hick, yokel, "Bubba", and "white trash" are also applied, though usually pejoratively and are often interchanged with "good ol' boy," the "good ol' boy" is more of an idealized image of rural Americans, Canadians and Australians.
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[edit] Fine distinctions
There are two fine distinctions in usage:
Ole' Boy and Ole were traditionally used in rural settings. However, they have found themselves into my urban and 'ghetto' areas in this day and age. Ole Boy and Ole Girl are now used as generic terminology to refer to a person that is a mere acquaintance. For example, Curtis may say "Return that to Ole Boy today, because he needs it back." In addition, Curtis may also ask a question "Have you heard from Ole Boy today on the phone?"
- "He's just a good ol' boy havin' a little fun." The "just" indicates the term is being used in the sense described above.
- "How come I can't get in on that business deal, get into that clique, etc.?" "You gotta be a good ol' boy." In this sense, it means you have to belong to the particular good ol' boy network.
- "He's a good ol' boy." This can have either meaning, depending on the situation.
"Good ol' boys" are generally thought to work in blue-collar professions like skilled trades, resource extraction (mining, forestry); agriculture, law enforcement or enlisted military service. Recreations are stereotypically hunting, fishing, gambling, spectator sports such as pro wrestling or NASCAR and country music, rock 'n' roll, specifically "Southern Rock" as made popular by artists such as Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Eagles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, eighties heavy metal, or American folk music. Purchases for which a "good ol' boy" would save his pennies would be customized cars and/or motorcycles, sporting boats (particularly for bass fishing), satellite dishes, hunting and fishing equipment, or specialized small appliances (such as turkey deep-fryers).
The "good ol' boy's" dress is casual, but neat; work or casual button-down shirts are often worn over jeans and Western-style boots, but this uniform can vary with the region; sneakers or lug-soled shoes or boots may replace the cowboy boots outside of "horse country". Some clothing usually applicable to "rednecks" or other negative stereotypes, such as sleeveless t-shirts or jogging pants, will not be found on a "good ol' boy's" back. Such men tend to possess a laid-back, informal manner, speaking in most cases with accents and idioms specific to their region of origin, such as Appalachian English (or Southern American English) or Broad Australian English.
While owing much to Mark Twain or, even earlier, to the fabliau tradition of folk literature or the Robin Hood tales in some respects, the image of the "good ol' boy" in North American and Australian culture is a modern interpretation of the earlier American cowboy. Evolving through the emergence of rock 'n' roll and "new" country music, national exposure to the underground motorcycle culture and, later, the rise in influence of the youth counter-culture of the 1960s, it emerged in its present incarnation by the mid-1970s as the popularity of country and folk music peaked and Western-style fashion featured prominently in popular culture, and has remained largely intact ever since.
The term, and the type, especially gained popularity throughout North America from the theme, sung by Waylon Jennings, of the highly-successful U.S. television series The Dukes of Hazzard (CBS, 1978-1985), about the lead characters Bo and Luke Duke (played by John Schneider and Tom Wopat respectively.) Other characterizations of the type include roles by Burt Reynolds in the Cannonball Run films and, with Jerry Reed and Sally Field, in the Smokey and the Bandit films of the late 1970s. More recently, observational humor by comedians Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, Ron White and Larry the Cable Guy has illustrated the extent to which rural North Americans have embraced the type. In the 2005 T.V. Series, My Name Is Earl, it shows two good ol' boys Earl and Randy Hickey going around fixing the bad things they did and being better people showing the most typical stereotype of good ol' boys with the soundtrack and themes in the show.
Characters of the "good ol' boy" type are well-loved and regarded, and the term thus has generally a positive connotation: that such males are hard-working, loyal, and respectful; are friendly, helpful, gallant, and hospitable even to strangers; place great personal emphasis on close ties to one's faith, family (in the most expansive sense), and community; and bring to their vocations and their lot in life both humor and a simple dignity, even as they perform heroic actions and aspire to greater accomplishments within their sphere. In such characterizations, the "good ol' boy", more clever and resourceful than his formal education would suggest, uses the means at his disposal to put down some larger evil, even though he himself is often held as an outlaw figure or, at least, is dismissed or underestimated by others because of his origins.
Any misbehavior on the hero's part, however, owes more to simple mischief or mild rebellion than to psychopathology or lack of scruples. Vices for the "good ol' boy" would be two or three beers at his local watering-hole, speeding or fighting, the latter often an attempt to attract or impress members of the opposite sex (especially as young adults) rather than to inflict lasting injury. Unlike "rednecks", however, "Good ol' boys" are not portrayed using other drugs, willfully endangering life or livelihood, nor abusing or exploiting women.
Perhaps as a product of the times and reflective of the influence of second-wave feminism, women in these films and shows are, in fact, portrayed as equal or superior to the men in skill, cleverness and moxie; all the while exploiting the old gender inequities to their advantage (talking their way out of speeding tickets, for example, or accepting favors from love-struck acquaintances) and remaining relatively morally virtuous. In this light, Daisy Duke (as portrayed by Catherine Bach on the show) is often considered a feminist icon, while Sally Field's role as the long-suffering girlfriend to Burt Reynolds' wild and irreverent Bandit in the Smokey films is a study in women's struggle between their newfound sexual freedom and the old need for stability and security, even within an egalitarian relationship as she enjoys/endures with the Bandit. The "good ol' boys" are generally content to allow the girls their freedoms even while defending their honour and protecting their virtue, much as Gawain in the Arthurian tale The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle leaves the loathly lady to make her own choice: both appear to recognize the need for a woman to choose her own fate in order to be happy and in both such a treatment of women constitutes a significant part of their respective moral codes.
As a result of their virtues and great personal charisma, "good ol' boys" have endeared themselves to audiences over time to such an extent as to be considered iconic. When a film version of The Dukes of Hazzard was released in 2005, fans of the original television show seeking a simple remake were largely disappointed by the reduction of a much-loved slice-of-life comedy and its characters into a frathouse-level ridicule of rural stereotypes. As originally portrayed, however, the "good ol' boy" is regarded with great affection and its portrayal in pop culture has allowed the type to flourish, in one form or another, throughout North America.
[edit] Cultural references
"The Good Ole Boys" is also the name of a Country Western band in the popular 1980 musical/comedy The Blues Brothers. After the Blues Brothers take a gig reserved for The Good Ole Boys, they attempt to kill band leaders Jake and Elwood Blues.
American Pie refers to "them good old boys" being at a levee "drinkin' whiskey and rye" [1].
[edit] References
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