About the song
Toby Keith’s upbeat anthem “Honkytonk U” is a rollicking tribute to the honky-tonk lifestyle and the timeless appeal of country music. Featured on his album “Honkytonk University,” this lively tune captures the essence of honky-tonk bars and the camaraderie found within their walls.
Written by Toby Keith himself, along with songwriter Scotty Emerick, “Honkytonk U” exudes a sense of nostalgia and celebration, paying homage to the honky-tonk tradition with its catchy hooks and infectious energy. Keith’s spirited delivery, coupled with his signature twang, infuses the song with a sense of authenticity and fun, inviting listeners to kick up their heels and join the party.
As an acclaimed country music artist with a string of chart-topping hits to his name, Toby Keith has solidified his place as a mainstay in the industry. “Honkytonk U” reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, showcasing its widespread popularity among fans of country music.
Listeners who have fond memories of honky-tonk bars and dance halls will find themselves transported back in time by the lively rhythms of “Honkytonk U.” In Toby Keith’s capable hands, this spirited anthem becomes more than just a song – it is a celebration of the rich heritage and enduring appeal of country music, and a testament to the joy found in the simple pleasures of life.
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Lyrics
My grandmother owned a night club on the Arkansas-Oklahoma line.
Momma put me on a Greyhound an’ I went to stay with her in the summertime.
I’d box up those empty long-necks and stack ’em in the back and bake a ham.
Then at night she’d let me sneak out of the kitchen and sit in with the band.
Yes, I have sacked some quarterbacks
An’ broke my share of bones along the way.
I knew it wouldn’t last forever; semi-pro always means semi-payed.
I started climbin’ drillin’ rigs: I’m oil field trash and proud as I can be, yeah.
Then I took my songs an’ guitar an’ sang ’em for a man from Tennessee.
I’ve played every beer joint tavern from New York City out to Pasadena.
Every corn-dog fair and rodeo an’ sold out every basketball arena.
Like to get down with my boys in Afghanistan and Baghdad City too.
I am a red, white and blue blood graduate of Honkytonk U.
A star can’t burn forever an’ the brightest ones will someday lose their shine.
But the glass won’t ever be half-empty in my optimistic mind.
I’ll still have a song to sing an’ a band to turn it up and play it loud.
As long as there’s a bar room with a corner stage and a honky tonk crowd.
I’ve played every beer joint tavern from New York City out to Pasadena.
Every corn-dog fair and rodeo an’ sold out every basketball arena.
I like to get down with my boys in Afghanistan and Baghdad City too.
Son, I’m a red, white and blue blood graduate of Honkytonk U.
That’s right: a red, white and blue blood graduate of Honkytonk U.