Honkytonk U – Toby Keith

Introduction:

“Honkytonk U” by Toby Keith was released in 2005 as the lead single and title track of his ninth studio album, Honkytonk University. The song is a reflection on Keith’s upbringing and his early experiences playing in bars and honky-tonks, where he honed his craft as a musician. It highlights the gritty, formative environment of these venues, which served as his “university” in life and music. The track blends nostalgia with a celebratory tone, capturing the essence of the honky-tonk lifestyle and the life lessons Keith absorbed along the way.

The song paints vivid pictures of barroom characters and the communal spirit of these places, with a focus on the cultural influence of honky-tonks in shaping Keith’s career. It serves as a tribute to the working-class environment and the hardworking people who frequent these spaces. The single reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and became a fan favorite, often performed at Keith’s live shows​.

Video:

Lyrics:

“Honkytonk U”

My grandmother owned a nightclub on the Arkansas-Oklahoma line
Momma put me on a greyhound, and I went
To stay with her in the summertime
I’d box up those empty long necks and stack’em in the back and make
A hand
Then at night she’d let me sneak out of the kitchen and sit in with the band
Yes, I have sacked some quarterbacks and broke my share of bones along the way
I knew it wouldn’t
Last forever, semi-pro always means semi-paid
I started climbin’ drillin’ rig, I’m oil field trash and
Proud as I can be
Then I took my songs and guitar and sang’em to a man from TennesseeI’ve played every beer joint tavern from New York city out to Pasadena
Every corn dog fair and rodeo
And sold out every basketball arena
I 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, and the brightest ones will someday lose their shine
But the glass wont
Ever be half empty in my optimistic mind
I’ll still have a song to sing and a band to turn it up and
Play it loud
As long as there’s a bar room with a corner stage and a honkytonk crowd

I’ve played every beer joint tavern from New York city out to Pasadena
Every corn dog fair and rodeo
And sold out ever 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