Introduction:
Get Drunk and Be Somebody: A Celebration of Blue-Collar Bravado (But Not Without Controversy)
“Get Drunk and Be Somebody,” released in December 2005, was the first single from Toby Keith’s album White Trash with Money. The song, co-written by Keith and Scotty Emerick, quickly became a hit with fans, reaching number 32 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
The song struck a chord with blue-collar workers who identified with the lyrics about feeling unseen and undervalued. The opening lines paint a picture of a small-town bar filled with folks working long hours for little recognition:
“Down here in this honky tonk, everybody’s got a story
Workin’ man blues, singin’ the same ol’ glory”
Keith sings about the allure of escaping the daily grind with a night of drinking, a sentiment some found relatable, offering a temporary sense of camaraderie and forgotten troubles.
However, the song wasn’t without its critics. Some argued it glorified excessive drinking as a coping mechanism, potentially overshadowing the hard work and resilience of blue-collar America.
Despite the mixed reactions, “Get Drunk and Be Somebody” remains a popular choice at country bars, a testament to its ability to capture the complex lives of working folks who find solace and connection in shared experiences, even if those experiences aren’t always sunshine and roses.