Song Review: Billy Strings - “If You're Gonna be Dumb, You Gotta be Tough”
In addition to being a badass, Billy Strings is a “Jackass.”
On his first release since breaking his leg skateboarding backstage in April, Strings, somewhat ironically, contributes to the soundtrack of “Jackass: Best and Last” (June 26) with “If You're Gonna be Dumb, You Gotta be Tough.”
Dobro master Jerry Douglas is the featured soloist. Strings sings unaccompanied and plays guitar alongside mandolinist Jarrod Walker, banjoist Russ Carson, bassist Royal Masat and drummer Jamie Dick, who add confident, if misplaced, strut for the cocky narrator to declare:
If you’re gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough/when you get knocked down, you gotta get back up/I ain’t the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I know enough to know/if you’re gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough, Strings sings.
He didn’t write the “Jackass” theme - Roger Alan Wade did that - and Strings recorded “Dumb” with only two (Walker and Masat) members of his touring band. But this soundtrack single is the relatively uncommon studio track that captures Strings’ live personality on wax.
Grade card: Billy Strings - “If You're Gonna be Dumb, You Gotta be Tough” - A
6/12/26