Honky Tonk
Buddy Flett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Beat of the drum like to drive me wild
Sound was a commin' from across the track
Went off over and I never came back
Yeah the preacher taught him Daddy taught me
How to sing all the blues in a honky tonk key
Guitar man's got a Beale Street tone
Girls up front baby all night long
Oh what a night to come home alone
Yeah the preacher taught him daddy taught me
Sing all the blues in a honky tonk key
Yeah the preacher taught him daddy taught me
Sing all the blues in a honky tonk key
The preacher taught him, daddy taught me
To sing all the blues in a honky tonk key
Buddy Flett's song "Honky Tonk" is a nostalgic recollection of the singer's youth, where the sound of the blues coming from across the tracks was an irresistible call for him. He describes how the beat of the drum used to drive him wild when he was a child and how he never came back after going off to explore it. This is indicative of him being drawn to the world of honky-tonk music, which was popular during the 1960s and '70s.
The lyrics in the song also describe how the singer was taught to sing the blues in a honky-tonk key by his father and the preacher. He speaks of turning up the singer on a sad song, which shows how he was enamored with the concept of being able to express raw emotion through music. The guitar man's Beale Street tone is yet another reference to the blues, as Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee, is renowned for being the birthplace of blues music.
The repetition of the line "the preacher taught him daddy taught me to sing all the blues in a honky-tonk key" adds to the emotional depth of the song, highlighting how the singer was raised to appreciate and perform this genre of music. It is a heartfelt and authentic tribute to the roots of honky-tonk music.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I remember the sound since I was a child
I have vivid memories of the sound of the honky tonk music since childhood.
Beat of the drum like to drive me wild
The rhythmic beat of the drums excites me.
Sound was a commin' from across the track
The sound was coming from the other side of the train tracks.
Went off over and I never came back
I left to follow the music and never looked back.
Yeah the preacher taught him Daddy taught me
Both my father and I were taught by the preacher.
How to sing all the blues in a honky tonk key
We were taught to sing the melancholic songs often played in honky tonks.
Well I turn up the singer on a sad song
I increase the volume of the singer when they perform a sad song.
Guitar man's got a Beale Street tone
The guitarist has a signature sound reminiscent of Beale Street in Memphis.
Girls up front baby all night long
Women are dancing and enjoying themselves all night long at the front of the bar.
Oh what a night to come home alone
It's a disappointing night to return home alone.
The preacher taught him, daddy taught me
Both generations learned from the same teacher.
To sing all the blues in a honky tonk key
The focus was on learning how to perform the soulful, bluesy music associated with honky tonks.
Lyrics © SCHUBERT MUSIC PUBLISHING INC.
Written by: BUDDY FLETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BenKellyMusic92
My favorite track on the album :)
@pirro2393
Que buen tema!
@lanalennox93
should be way more likes!
@MrDizzyD2
FUKIN AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!