Although Toby Keith's new song "Old School" reflects back on past decades spent in your typical 35 MPH town, it comes from the minds of two songwriters who're pushing country music into the future.
Married couple Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd wrote the song several years back with Brett Tyler. As reported by Taste of Country, there's a demo version from 2014, sung by Hurd and posted on Tyler's Soundcloud page.
Keith co-produced his recording with Kenny Greenberg.
"Old School" hit streaming services a week after Keith, Brantley Gilbert and Hardy's "The Worst Country Song of All Time" (their words, not ours). Expect more fresh material from Keith as he preps for the fall release of a new album. Fourth of July weekend-appropriate tune "Happy Birthday America," a song Keith wrote during the pandemic, would be a timely preview of that's next from the Oklahoma-born hitmaker.
Keith's newest song arrives shortly after the announcement that in August, he'll receive the ACM Merle Haggard Spirit Award. It's "presented to a singer-songwriter who is continuing the legacy of country legend and 20-time ACM Award winner Merle Haggard by following his/her own path, crafting great songs and epitomizing Merle's spirit through genuine performances and great storytelling."
"Old School" Lyrics
Yeah back in the high school, yeah they're so cool
Letterman jackets in the parking lot
Dragging on a Camel light, back behind the Five and Dime
Praying that they never get caught
Everybody's gonna fish fry Saturday night
Cuz if you call one, gotta call 'em all
Cruising down the main street, driving through the Dairy Queen
Ain't got a Wal-Mart, ain't got a mall
We're old school, small town sticking around
Just like folks used to, good ol' boys and girls
Just falling in love, living the life, yeah
Middle of nowhere feels about right
Keeping it old school, just the way we like
Married by 19, two pawn shop rings
Ain't a big city, but it sure is nice
Blue collar, six pack, work hard, laid back
Sitting on the front porch, drop on by
Picking on a six string, living on a shoestring
Ain't got much, but we don't care
Needle on a record don't get any better
Like whoa baby, we're halfway there
We're old school, small town sticking around
Just like folks used to, good ol' boys and girls
Just falling in love, living the life, yeah
Middle of nowhere feels about right
Keeping it old school, just the way we like
Everybody say old school, small town sticking around
Just like folks used to, good ol' boys and girls
Just falling in love, living the life, yeah
Middle of nowhere feels about right
Keeping it old school, just the way we like
Yeah kicking it old school, it's a small town sticking around
Just like folks used to, good ol' boys and girls
Just falling in love, living the life, yeah
Middle of nowhere feels about right
Keeping it old school, just the way we like
Old school
Old school
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