Introduction
“It’s Hard to Be Humble” is a delightfully tongue-in-cheek country anthem originally written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Mac Davis, released in the spring of 1980 on his LP Hard to Be Humble . The song quickly became an international hit, climbing charts in countries like Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and even reaching No. 27 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 10 on the U.S. Billboard Country chart .
The humor in the song lies in its unabashed self-admiration. The narrator boasts “Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in every way,” lines the audience can’t help but chuckle at, especially as he professes, “To know me is to love me” , With its catchy melody and comedic delivery, the tune has endured as a fan favorite for decades.
Over the years, the song has seen several covers in various languages: a Dutch version titled “’t Is moeilijk bescheiden te blijven” became a top-10 hit in the Netherlands, and German renditions like “Ich bin viel zu bescheiden” also emerged. Notably, in 2019, country music icon Willie Nelson recorded his own affectionate rendition for his album Ride Me Back Home, accompanied by a light-hearted music video showing him in studio, joined by his sons Lukas and Micah Nelson.
Nelson’s version carries the same comedic spirit as the original but softened with his warm, laid-back delivery. The music video, filmed in his studio, highlights the familial bond as he playfully delivers lines like “I get better looking each day,” capturing both the song’s humor and his timeless charm .
In sum, “It’s Hard to Be Humble” endures as a witty celebration of self-love and playful vanity. From its origins in Mac Davis’s repertoire to Willie Nelson’s generational reinterpretation, the song remains a beloved staple of country music humor and heart.