About the song
Toby Keith’s What’s Up Cuz is a rollicking, good-natured country anthem that feels like a conversation between old friends catching up after years apart. Released as part of his later work, this track is classic Keith—straightforward, humorous, and brimming with that signature mix of honky-tonk swagger and down-home warmth. For fans of his brand of country—equal parts barroom storyteller and blue-collar philosopher—What’s Up Cuz delivers exactly what one would expect: a toe-tapping, feel-good song that captures the easygoing spirit of a small-town reunion.
At its heart, What’s Up Cuz is a celebration of familiarity, kinship, and the kind of relationships that pick up right where they left off, no matter how much time has passed. The lyrics unfold like a rapid-fire exchange between two cousins reconnecting—one rattling off a laundry list of questions and observations about family, local gossip, and the good old days. Keith’s delivery is conversational, and his warm, slightly gruff vocal tone makes the song feel like a lively back-porch chat over a few cold beers.
Musically, the track leans into Keith’s wheelhouse—a steady rhythm section, twangy electric guitars, and a melody that sits comfortably in that sweet spot between traditional country and radio-friendly honky-tonk. The instrumentation is simple but effective, allowing the storytelling to take center stage. The song moves with an easygoing, mid-tempo pace, reinforcing the laid-back nature of the exchange.
What makes What’s Up Cuz so engaging is its authenticity. Toby Keith has always had a knack for crafting songs that feel lived-in, drawing from everyday experiences and conversations that resonate deeply with his audience. This isn’t a song about grand emotions or sweeping narratives; instead, it thrives in the small moments—the oddball relatives, the local legends, the half-remembered tales of youthful mischief. It’s the kind of song that reminds listeners of their own family gatherings, where the conversation flows as freely as the drinks, and the past is always just a few stories away from coming back to life.
For longtime fans, What’s Up Cuz is another example of Keith’s enduring ability to find charm in the everyday. It’s lighthearted, effortlessly enjoyable, and perfectly suited for a singalong. While it may not reinvent the wheel, it doesn’t need to—Toby Keith knows exactly what his audience wants, and he delivers it with his trademark wit and charm.
Video
Lyrics
Hey, what’s up cuz
Man, I got a two beer buzz
What say we take your truck so we don’t get stuck,
No, we don’t get stuck
I hear these bathing beauties
Wading in a fishing hole
I think it’s bout time to catch one
Ain’t takin’ no fishin’ pole (Mhmm)
Hey, what’s up cuz
Man, I got a three beer buzz
I’s pretty good on Sunday
Now it’s Monday, all day Monday
Uncle Doug made a jug or two of his famous homemade shine
Goes down so sweet and smooth
He calls it apple pie
Y’all want some apple pie?
Pickin’ in the parlor, pickin’ on the porch
Pick a little finger, pick pick a little more
Chicken and the crickets are singin’ that tune
Old bullfrogs just poppin’ that groove
Hey, what’s up cuz
Man, I got a four beer buzz
Get a little getting down
Stompin’ around, st-stompin’ around
And somebody gotta feed that dog
Somebody gotta milk that cow (HEY!)
Somebody gotta play this solo
How bout we play it now? (Right now!)
I’m gonna drown my sorrow
With all my good time friends
And I’ll wake up tomorrow
And do it all again
Hey, what’s up cuz
Man, I got a two beer buzz
Hey, what’s up cuz
Man, I got a two beer buzz
Hey, what’s up cuz
Man, I got a two beer buzz
