I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal (But I'm Gonna Be a Diamond Someday)

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"I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal (But I'm Gonna Be a Diamond Someday)"
Single by John Anderson
from the album John Anderson 2
B-side"Havin' Hard Times"[1]
ReleasedMarch 28, 1981
GenreCountry
Length3:47
LabelWarner Bros. Nashville
Songwriter(s)Billy Joe Shaver
Producer(s)Norro Wilson
John Anderson singles chronology
"1959"
(1980)
"I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal (But I'm Gonna Be a Diamond Someday)"
(1981)
"Chicken Truck"
(1981)

"I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal (But I'm Gonna Be a Diamond Someday)" is a song written and originally recorded by Billy Joe Shaver. American country music artist John Anderson released the song in March 1981 as the first single from his album John Anderson 2. The song reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.[1]

The song is briefly sung by the title character in one scene of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and featured in the end credits of Norm Macdonald's Netflix comedy special Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special. Two covers of the song were released in 2022, performed by Jamey Johnson on the John Anderson tribute album Something Borrowed, Something New and Miranda Lambert on the Billy Joe Shaver tribute album Live Forever.

Chart performance[edit]

Chart (1981) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[2] 4
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 2

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. pp. 26–27. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  2. ^ "John Anderson Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.