Clancy's Tavern

Album: Clancy's Tavern (2011)
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Songfacts®:

  • This song is a tribute to Toby Keith's hard-working grandmother and her nightclub in Fort Smith, Arkanas, which the singer previously referenced in his biographical hit "Honkytonk U." He explained: "My Grandmother passed away when she was 86; she was like Miss Kitty and ran a supper club/night club in Fort Smith for years. So when I was a kid, some of the earliest memories I have of being on this earth were going by her night club and seeing my Grandmother. I spent a whole summer with her, and years ago I wrote the song 'Honkytonk U' about it and her buying me a guitar. This song is a tribute to her."
  • Keith explained the song title: "The name of the bar was Billy Garners' Supper Club, but it wasn't fitting into my song very well. My Grandfather had nicknamed her Clancy because she was a saloon keeper, and always called her Clancy around the house. So I used Clancy's Tavern. I give you the visual and everything you see when you go in the door. There's nothing made up in this song. Every bit of this is word for word, exactly what you would have seen if you went in the front door at 5:00 and stayed all night long. It's a pretty special song to me."

Comments: 1

  • Linda I Whitledge from Firt Smith,ar.Tobys grandmother is buried near my parents at Woodlawn on stateline Road on Arkansas side across road to Arkoma, ok . I rwmember his Grandmothers tavern downtown alot of singers came through . George jones often sing downtown in the 50s
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