Toby Keith Shared His Final Thoughts on Marriage to Tricia Lucas Before He Passed . They met when Toby was still a young man—playing music in bars and working on oil rigs. Back then, he had nothing but a dream of music and the pride of a Southern man. Tricia wasn’t drawn to fame—because it didn’t exist yet. What kept her by his side was Toby’s honest heart, his humor, and his fierce determination. When he was diagnosed with stomach cancer, Toby couldn’t hide his fear. But in those final months, what he spoke of most wasn’t the pain—it was gratitude. Gratitude for Tricia, who never left him even in his weakest moments. Who became, in his words, “the best nurse in the world”—from driving him to appointments to simply sitting quietly by his bedside, holding his hand. “I’m a songwriter, I tell stories through music,” Toby once said, “but there’s no song that can ever fully tell the story of her.”

Introduction

Released in August 2003 as the lead single from Toby Keith’s album Shock’n Y’all, “I Love This Bar” was co‑written by Keith and frequent collaborator Scotty Emerick . The recording—produced by Keith alongside James Stroud—captures the warm, unpretentious feel of a neighborhood watering hole.

From its debut, the song struck a chord with country fans. It climbed swiftly on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, ultimately reaching No. 1 and holding that position for five consecutive weeks . Critics viewed it as destined to become a “beer‑joint staple” —a prediction that proved prescient as the song has endured as a bar‑room anthem.

Musically, it’s a mid‑tempo country tune with a melodic, sing‑along chorus. Lyrically, Keith lists an eclectic cast of patrons—“winners and losers, chain‑smokers and boozers, bikers, high‑techs, hookers and yuppies”—capturing the spirit of inclusivity and shared camaraderie . The refrain, “Come as you are,” has been interpreted as a deceptively progressive statement of acceptance, celebrating diversity within the working‑class refuge of a bar.

The song’s popularity spurred a real‑world extension of its theme. Inspired by the track, Keith launched a chain of restaurants under the name Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill, opening the first locations in 2005.

Its visual counterpart, a music video directed by Michael Salomon and filmed at the Cowboy Palace Saloon in Chatsworth, CA, first aired on CMT on August 21, 2003 . The video complements the song’s lyrical homage, showing regulars laughing, drinking, and embracing the “come‑as‑you‑are” ethos.

Cementing its legacy, the song was later ranked No. 98 on Rolling Stone’s “200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time” list . With its chart success, cultural resonance, and lasting vibe, “I Love This Bar” remains one of Toby Keith’s signature works—and a timeless anthem to the simple joys of community and belonging.

Video

Lyrics

We got winners
We got losers
Chain-smokers and boozers
We got yuppies
We got bikers
We got thirsty hitchhikers
And the girls next door dress up like movie stars
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, I love this bar
We got cowboys
We got truckers
Broken-hearted fools and suckers
And we got hustlers
We got fighters
Early-birds and all-nighters
And the veterans talk about their battle scars
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, I love this bar
I love this bar
It’s my kind of place
Just walkin’ through the front door
Puts a big smile on my face
It ain’t too far
Come as you are
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, I love this bar
I’ve seen short skirts
We’ve got high-techs
Blue-collared boys and rednecks
And we got lovers
Lots of lookers
I’ve even seen dancing girls and hookers
And we like to drink our beer from a mason jar
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, I love this bar
(Yes I do)
I like my truck
I like my truck
And I like my girlfriend
I like my girlfriend
I like to take her out to dinner
I like a movie now and then
But I love this bar
It’s my kind of place
Just toein’ around the dance floor
Puts a big smile on my face
No cover charge
Come as you are
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, I love this bar
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, I just love this old bar