“Down to the Honkytonk” by Jake Owen
“Down to the Honkytonk” is a country song recorded by American singer Jake Owen. In this song, “the honkytonk” that Owen is referring to is a place where a person can have a good time listening to country music, getting drunk and chilling.
The singer goes out of his way to show that he is just an average Joe with a regular job and normal aspirations. But none of that stops him from enjoying life, even becoming a legend at his local bar. “The honkytonk” is real. However, in the general context of the song, it is a symbolic place, indeed his very home, that is always there to receive him and like-minded fellows. Indeed, even if he never becomes a superstar entertainer, Owen knows that he can always find refuge and contentment by going down to the honkytonk.
What really is a honkytonk?
A honkytonk (which can also be called a tonk or a honkatonk) is basically a bar that entertains its customers purely with country music. These bars are commonly found in the Southern parts of the United States.
Against this backdrop, we guess it’s safe to say this song pays homage to honkytonks.
Facts about “Down to the Honkytonk”
- Jake Owen didn’t write this song. It was written by three renowned American country music songwriters. These writers are: Luke Laird, Rodney Clawson and Shane McAnally. All three songwriters had worked several times with Owen prior to this track.
- Canadian record producer Joey Moi produced this track.
- On August 20, 2018, Big Loud Records commercially released “Down to the Honkytonk”. It’s important to mention that Joey Moi (who produced the song) co-founded Big Loud Records.
- This song was the second single Owen released while being signed to Big Loud.
- The song’s official video was filmed entirely in Nashville, Tennessee. Music video directors Ben Skipworth and Justin Clough teamed up to direct this video.
How did this track perform on the charts?
The track reached number 1 on Canada’s Country Billboard chart. It also made it into the US Billboard Hot 100.
On which album does this song appear?
You can find it on Owen’s second EP titled after himself. It is the first of the five tracks on that EP.
