EconGoneCountry

Supply and demand with a twang

Title: For a Boat

​Artist: Luke Bryan

Economic Concepts: Money; Scarcity; Value; Medium of exchange; Inflation; Economic Growth and Development; Normal goods; Leisure 

Details: One of the first things learned in economics is about scarcity and how that translates into an item's value.  Money has value in a society because it is relatively scarce, which the lyrics make clear "Money doesn't grow on trees".  This can be an interesting place to discuss inflation, and more specifically, 
hyperinflation.  Countries that have dealt with hyperinflation have had extremely large increases in the printing of money, which makes it abundant and decreases its value.  

Interestingly, "For a Boat" by Luke Bryan has many parallels to "Buy Me a Boat" by Chris Janson, but their core message is completely different.  For this song, it is evident that consumer goods, such as a new truck or boat, will not bring long-term utility and happiness.  Luke's dad tells him, "Love what you got, buddy, not what you ain't".  So, even though he grew up poor and was "too broke for a boat", he also "…grew up pretty lucky as far as lucky goes", because he was able to spend quality time with his father every Saturday.  This song can also be used to discuss economic growth and whether increased income leads to greater happiness.           

Lyrics: 
Everything I learned about life
I learned out on that bank
From gettin' up early, comin' up empty
And good things come to those that wait

Money doesn't grow on trees
The difference in talking, and shootin' the breeze

I remember thinkin', wouldn't it be cool
To have an old flat bottom and an Evinrude
And daddy saying, "Son, don't they bite just fine right here?"
He'd say, "Love what you got, buddy, not what you ain't
And just about then that bobber would sink
And that outboard dream of mine would disappear
I grew up pretty lucky as far as lucky goes
Too broke for a boat

He coulda picked up an extra shift
Or a weekend at the factory
But every Sunday was saved for Jesus
And Saturdays, he spent with me

'Til that summer would fall
I didn't know we had it all

I remember thinkin', wouldn't it be cool
To have an old flat bottom and an Evinrude
And daddy saying, "Son, don't they bite just fine right here?"
He'd say, "Love what you got, buddy, not what you ain't
And just about then that bobber would sink
And that outboard dream of mine would disappear
I grew up pretty lucky as far as lucky goes
Too broke for a boat
Too broke for a boat

I remember thinkin', wouldn't it be cool
To have an old flat bottom and an Evinrude
And daddy saying, "Son, don't they bite just fine right here?"
He'd say, "Love what you got, buddy, not what you ain't
And just about then that bobber would sink
And that outboard dream of mine would disappear
I grew up pretty lucky as far as lucky goes
Too broke for a boat
Too broke for a boat    ​​​​