Introduction:
“I’ll Wake You Up When I Get Home,” covered by Toby Keith, is a tender homage to 1970s country music originally performed by Charlie Rich. The song gained attention during Keith’s “Furniture Store Guitar Sessions,” a series of acoustic covers recorded while he was quarantined in Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic. Keith’s performance on a locally sourced guitar emphasized the song’s intimate, soulful essence, stripping it down to its heartfelt lyrics and minimalistic melody. This performance style allowed listeners to connect deeply with the song’s themes of love, longing, and the joy of reuniting with loved ones.
The song resonates as a classic country ballad, encapsulating the emotions of a man separated from his loved one, vowing to reconnect upon his return. Keith’s rendition brings out the nostalgia and simplicity of Rich’s era while connecting to contemporary themes of isolation and longing during the pandemic. His choice to cover “I’ll Wake You Up When I Get Home” highlights Keith’s admiration for the emotional storytelling rooted in traditional country music, making this rendition both a tribute to Rich and a reflection of Keith’s own artistic values.
