About the song
Toby Keith has long been a storyteller of the American everyman—spinning tales of hard work, heartache, and hard-earned good times with a voice that’s equal parts grit and charm. In Get Drunk and Be Somebody, he leans into his signature brand of blue-collar revelry, delivering an anthem for those who spend their days punching the clock and their nights raising a glass in defiance of the daily grind. Released in 2006 as the lead single from his album White Trash with Money, the song encapsulates Keith’s uncanny ability to capture the working-class experience with both humor and heart.
From the moment the song kicks in, there’s a palpable sense of energy—this isn’t a lament about long hours or low wages; it’s a rallying cry for those who find their escape in a neon-lit barroom, swapping their work boots for whiskey glasses. The opening guitar riff sets the tone, a rollicking invitation to leave the worries of the week behind. Keith’s delivery is loose and playful, but there’s an underlying sincerity that makes the song more than just another drinking anthem—it’s a recognition of the way so many people find solace in simple, familiar pleasures.
Lyrically, Get Drunk and Be Somebody speaks to a universal truth: the idea that people often feel stuck in the roles they play during the day, only to reclaim a sense of freedom once they’re off the clock. Keith paints a vivid picture of a crowd that comes alive after hours, shaking off their nine-to-five personas and becoming the versions of themselves they wish they could be all the time. “We got nothin’ to lose, we ain’t got no pride,” he sings, embodying that moment when the first drink washes away the weight of responsibility, if only for a little while.
What makes the song work so well is its balance of humor and relatability. Keith isn’t just celebrating the act of getting drunk—he’s tapping into that deeply human desire to break free, to forget, to feel important even when life makes you feel small. The chorus is anthemic, built for barroom singalongs, but there’s also a wry self-awareness in lines like “We just want to feel a little bit like we don’t got to be somebody.” It’s a knowing nod to the fact that, for many, alcohol is more than just a way to unwind—it’s a temporary escape from the pressures of everyday life.
Musically, the song stays true to Keith’s well-established sound, blending honky-tonk twang with rock-tinged country. The production is crisp, with a driving beat that makes it impossible to sit still. It’s the kind of song that feels right at home blasting from a jukebox in a crowded dive bar, where strangers become fast friends over rounds of cheap beer.
Ultimately, Get Drunk and Be Somebody is more than just another party song—it’s a testament to Keith’s ability to channel the spirit of working-class America into music that resonates. It’s fun, it’s raucous, but it’s also an honest look at the way so many people find joy in the small moments between shifts. And in that way, it’s not just about getting drunk—it’s about feeling alive, if only for a night.
Video
Lyrics
Yeah, the big boss man, he likes to crack that whip
I ain’t nothing but a number on his time card slip
I give him 40 hours and a piece of my soul
Puts me somewhere at the bottom of his totem pole
Hell, I don’t even think he knows my name
Hey, all week long I’m a real nobody
But I just punched out and it’s paycheck Friday
Weekend’s here, good God almighty
I’m going to get drunk and be somebody (somebody)
Yeah, yeah, yeah
My baby cuts hair at a beauty boutique
Just blowing and going ’til she dead on her feet
They walk right in and sit right down
She gives them what they want, and she spins them around
Hey, I don’t think they even know her name
All week long, she’s a real nobody
But I just picked her up, and it’s paycheck Friday
Weekend’s here, good God almighty
Baby, let’s get drunk and be somebody (somebody)
Yeah, yeah, yeah
We’re just average people, in an everyday bar
Driving from work in our ordinary cars
And I like to come here with regular Joes
Drink all you want, be the star of the show
All week long, bunch of real nobodies
But we just punched out and it’s paycheck Friday
Weekend’s here, good God almighty
People, let’s get drunk (let’s get drunk)
All week long we’re some real nobodies
But we just punched out, it’s paycheck Friday
Weekend’s here, good God almighty
People, let’s get drunk and be somebody (let’s get drunk)
Yeah, yeah, yeah
