Jimmy Fallon Performs ‘Thank God I’m A Country Boy’ On The Streets Of Austin

Jimmy Fallon had quite the cold open in store for Thursday’s episode of The Tonight Show, which was filmed at Bass Concert Hall in Austin. The host put his own spin on John Denver’s “Thank God I’m A Country Boy” as he strolled through the streets of Austin and wound up the song on-stage at the venue with help from The Roots, the University Of Texas Longhorn Band and Longhorn Cheerleaders.

John Denver originally released his take on the song penned by John Martin Sommers on his 1974 studio album, Back Home Again. Fallon adapted the words to fit the occasion with such lyrics as “Well life here in Austin in kinda laid back. Got drunk on Dirty Sixth ‘fore I even unpacked” and even took a shot at UT’s rivals with “Top of my lungs screaming ‘O-U sucks!” to the delight of the crowd.

Watch Fallon’s performance of “Thank God I’m A Country Boy” below: