Toby Keith’s “35 MPH Town”: A Nostalgic Journey Down a Slow Lane
Toby Keith, the quintessential country music troubadour, has a knack for painting vivid pictures with his lyrics. One of his most relatable tracks, “35 MPH Town”, takes us on a nostalgic journey through the heartland, where life moves at a much slower pace.
Background
Have you ever found yourself longing for a simpler time? A time when the biggest worry was making it to the Friday night high school football game? That’s the exact vibe Keith captures in this song. It’s a nostalgic ode to small-town America, where the only rush hour is the line at the local ice cream parlor.
The song’s title itself evokes imagery of a quiet, unhurried existence. In a world that’s constantly speeding up, a place where the highest speed limit is 35 miles per hour feels almost utopian. It’s a place where people wave hello to each other as they pass on the street, and the biggest news of the day is who won the fishing tournament.
Keith’s lyrics are filled with vivid descriptions that transport listeners to this idyllic setting. He paints a picture of a town where everyone knows everyone, and the local diner is the center of the community. It’s a place where the pace of life is so slow that you can actually hear the grass grow.
Musically, the song is a classic country ballad, with a twangy guitar and a steady drumbeat. The melody is both catchy and comforting, and it perfectly complements the nostalgic theme of the lyrics. “35 MPH Town” is the kind of song that makes you want to kick back in a rocking chair on a front porch and watch the world go by.
Video
Lyrics
🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤
Mama locked the door last nightFor the first time in all of her yearsI said, mama you’ve gotta be kidding meShe said things ain’t like they used to be ’round hereYou just wouldn’t believe itKids growing up without JesusA good thing your daddy ain’t here to see this nowThey stay higher than the water towerIn this thirty-five mile an hour townShe said it ain’t the drugs, it ain’t the boozeI’ve had a backroad buzz or two myselfIt seems like heaven’s slipping further awayThe devil ain’t got far to go when they raise hellWe used to burn a hole through midnightSmoking a stolen Marlboro LightAnd on a good night might kill a fifth of CrownBut now there’s a lower higher powerIn this thirty-five mile an hour townOh, we can’t blame our babies for growing up lazyAnd crazy, it ain’t them that let them downIf they ain’t stealing, they’re suingWhy work when we’ll give it to ’em?It’s right there in the Bible we don’t put outSpare the rod and you’ll sourA thirty-five mile an hour townThe “yes ma’am’s” gone and the “please’s” tooIt’s out the door with the “thank you”In the evening you don’t see a front yard football gameThe neighbor kids have done away with the shirt and skinsNo one hits the front porch lightsTo get their kids to come inside‘Cause the streets ain’t safe for a bike to ride downSince they printed a prowlerIn this thirty-five mile an hour town