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, yeah
Then I took my songs and guitar and sang 'em to a man from Tennessee
I'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 honky tonk you
His star can't burn forever
And 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 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 honky tonk 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 honky tonk you
That's right a red, white and blue blood graduate of honky tonk you