[1] The song's narrator is named John Lee Pettimore III, whose father and grandfather were both active in moonshine making and bootlegging in rural Johnson County, Tennessee.

Pettimore's grandfather visited town only rarely, in order to buy supplies for a still he had set up in a holler along Copperhead Road.

According to a family story, a revenue man once confronted John Sr. on Copperhead Road, intent on apprehending him for his moonshine activities, but never returned.

The song inspired a popular line dance, and has been used as the theme music for the Discovery Channel reality series Moonshiners.

The song's blend of country and Southern rock has influenced several artists, including Eric Church, Travis Tritt, Brothers Osborne, Chris Stapleton and Jason Aldean.