Boondock
Encyclopedia
The term boondocks refers to a remote, usually brushy rural area; or to a remote city or town that is considered unsophisticated.
during the early years of the 20th century. It derives from the Tagalog
word "bundok", meaning "mountain". According to military historian Paul Kramer, the term had attached to it "connotations of bewilderment and confusion", due to the guerrilla nature of the warfare in which the soldiers were engaged.
"Bundok" as originally used by Filipinos is a colloquialism
used to refer to rural areas. As major Filipino cities are all located near the coastline, rural areas inland are usually mountainous and difficult to access. Other equivalent terms used are the Spanish-derived "Probinsya" ('Province') and the Cebuano
"Bukid" ('Mountain'). It is also used as a derogatory term referring to the stereotype
of unsophisticated country people (Tagalog "Taga-bundok"/"Probinsyano", Cebuano "Taga-bukid" – literally 'Someone who comes from the mountains/province'). As an adjective, it can mean 'ignorant', 'uncultured', 'illiterate', or 'naive'.
or vegetation. Similar slang or colloquial words are "the sticks", "the wops" "the backblocks" or "Woop Woop" in Australia and New Zealand, "bundu" in South Africa, and "out in the tule
s" in California. The diminutive "the boonies" can be heard in films about the Vietnam War
such as Brian De Palma
's Casualties of War
. It is used by American military personnel to designate rural areas of Vietnam.
Down in the Boondocks is a song written & produced by Joe South
and sung by Billy Joe Royal
. It was a hit in 1965. It tells the story of a young man who laments that people put him down because he was born in the boondocks. He is in love with the boss man's daughter and vows to work slavishly until, one day, he can "move from this old shack" and fit in her society. Throughout the song, he asks the "Lord [to] have mercy on the boy from down in the boondocks".
Origins
The expression was introduced to English by American military personnel serving in the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
during the early years of the 20th century. It derives from the Tagalog
Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
word "bundok", meaning "mountain". According to military historian Paul Kramer, the term had attached to it "connotations of bewilderment and confusion", due to the guerrilla nature of the warfare in which the soldiers were engaged.
"Bundok" as originally used by Filipinos is a colloquialism
Colloquialism
A colloquialism is a word or phrase that is common in everyday, unconstrained conversation rather than in formal speech, academic writing, or paralinguistics. Dictionaries often display colloquial words and phrases with the abbreviation colloq. as an identifier...
used to refer to rural areas. As major Filipino cities are all located near the coastline, rural areas inland are usually mountainous and difficult to access. Other equivalent terms used are the Spanish-derived "Probinsya" ('Province') and the Cebuano
Cebuano language
Cebuano, referred to by most of its speakers as Bisaya , is an Austronesian language spoken in the Philippines by about 20 million people mostly in the Central Visayas. It is the most widely spoken of the languages within the so-named Bisayan subgroup and is closely related to other Filipino...
"Bukid" ('Mountain'). It is also used as a derogatory term referring to the stereotype
Stereotype
A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...
of unsophisticated country people (Tagalog "Taga-bundok"/"Probinsyano", Cebuano "Taga-bukid" – literally 'Someone who comes from the mountains/province'). As an adjective, it can mean 'ignorant', 'uncultured', 'illiterate', or 'naive'.
Expanded meanings
The term has evolved into American slang used to refer to the countryside or any implicitly isolated rural/wilderness area, regardless of topographyTopography
Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...
or vegetation. Similar slang or colloquial words are "the sticks", "the wops" "the backblocks" or "Woop Woop" in Australia and New Zealand, "bundu" in South Africa, and "out in the tule
Tule
Schoenoplectus acutus , called tule , common tule, hardstem tule, tule rush, hardstem bulrush, or viscid bulrush, is a giant species of sedge in the plant family Cyperaceae, native to freshwater marshes all over North America...
s" in California. The diminutive "the boonies" can be heard in films about the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
such as Brian De Palma
Brian De Palma
Brian Russell De Palma is an American film director and writer. In a career spanning over 40 years, he is probably best known for his suspense and crime thriller films, including such box office successes as the horror film Carrie, Dressed to Kill, Scarface, The Untouchables, and Mission:...
's Casualties of War
Casualties of War
Casualties of War is a 1989 war drama directed by Brian De Palma, with a screenplay by David Rabe, based on the actual events of the incident on Hill 192 in 1966 during the Vietnam War. It starred Michael J. Fox and Sean Penn....
. It is used by American military personnel to designate rural areas of Vietnam.
Down in the Boondocks is a song written & produced by Joe South
Joe South
Joe South is a multi-talented American singer-songwriter and guitarist.-Career:...
and sung by Billy Joe Royal
Billy Joe Royal
Billy Joe Royal is an American singer.-Biography:Born in Valdosta and raised in Marietta in 1942, Royal became a local star at Savannah, Georgia's Bamboo Ranch in the 1950s and 1960s...
. It was a hit in 1965. It tells the story of a young man who laments that people put him down because he was born in the boondocks. He is in love with the boss man's daughter and vows to work slavishly until, one day, he can "move from this old shack" and fit in her society. Throughout the song, he asks the "Lord [to] have mercy on the boy from down in the boondocks".