Toby Keith’s ‘That’s Country Bro’ Tributes Traditional Country Influences [Listen]
Toby Keith is paying tribute to the pioneers of early country music with his very modern-sounding new single, "That's Country Bro."
The up-tempo-guitar-driven track lyrically consists primarily of a long list of name checks to classic country stars, including Patsy Cline, Roy Acuff, Bill Monroe, Kitty Wells, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Porter Wagoner, Loretta Lynn and more. It's like a travelogue through country music history, with the long list of lyrical references somewhat reminiscent of Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire."
According to a press release, Keith sings the names of 57 different key influences in the two-and-a-half minute song. The feel of the track is classic, but with a very modern sheen of slick production elements.
"Heard ‘em every weekend / Opry tuned in on that AM radio / That’s country bro / Yeah, that’s country bro," Keith sings in the chorus.
Keith teamed with Bobby Pinson to co-write "That's Country Bro," and they both co-produced the track with Reid Shippen. Arturo Buenahora served as executive producer on the track, which is the lead single to Keith's next album project, Greatest Hits: The Show Dog Years.
Did You Know? Keith previously announced a tour named after the new song. His That's Country Bro! Tour begins on May 26 and runs through Nov. 9.
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Toby Keith's "That's Country Bro" Lyrics:
Jimmy Rogers, Patsy Cline, we lost Hank at 29 / Roy Acuff, Johnny Horton and dancin’ Bill Monroe / Woodie Guthrie, Bob Wills, Spade Cooley, Kitty Wells / Jimmy Dean and Big John and ole’ Hank Snow
Chorus:
Heard ‘em every weekend / Opry tuned in on that AM radio / That’s country bro / Yeah, that’s country bro
Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Porter Wagoner and the Hag / Faron, Lefty, Roger Miller King of the Road / Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wy, Buck and Don, and Charlie Pride / Marty Robbins and the Possum, ol’ George Jones
Chorus:
Heard ‘em all growin’ up / In daddy’s ole farm truck / 8-track stereo / Hey, that’s country bro
Gonna be country / You oughta know / A little bit of somethin’ / ‘Bout the roots and the boots / And the rhinestone suits / That started this rodeo
That’s country bro / Yeah, that’s country bro
Emmylou and Conway Twitty, mmm-Mel and Detroit City / Crystal Gayle, and Willie, Waylon, David Alan Coe / Earl Thomas, Eddy Rabbit, Shenandoah, Alabama / George Strait and Randy Travis, diggin’ up bones
Chorus:
Saw ‘em on Hee-Haw / Singing in their overalls / Junior was the star of the show / That’s country bro
Yeah, that’s country bro
Bo and Luke and Daisy Duke / Smokey and the Bandit one and two, / Jerry Reed and Jerry Clower, Glen Campbell’s Goodtime Hour / John Wayne and Marshall Dillon, Roy Rogers, Andy Griffith / Ben and Adam, Hoss and Little Joe / And Festus
That’s country bro / Yeah that’s country bro / That’s country bro yeah
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