We all have that song that gets our blood flowing. The one that every time you hear it, makes you wanna carpe some serious diem. For Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, that song was inspired by none other than cowboy icon, Clint Eastwood.
During his radio show “The Fan,” the billionaire NFL owner spoke out about how Toby Keith’s “Don’t Let the Old Man In” struck a chord with him. If you’re wondering how we get from Eastwood to Keith to Jones, here’s a little backstory:
92-year-old Eastwood had to cut out from a charity golf tournament in order to work on his 2018 flick, “The Mule.” Jerry Jones relays the story saying that, according to country superstar Toby Keith, Eastwood had to leave as to not “let the old man in.”
Clint Eastwood ‘Ain’t Going to Let the Old Man In’
“Well, Clint had to leave a golf tournament that he and Toby were playing in Tennessee and go back and go to work,” Jones said, according to Star Telegram. “And Toby said, ‘Why in the world would you go to work? You don’t need to work. You got all the money in the world.’ And ol’ Clint looked over at him and said, ‘Toby, I ain’t going to let the old man in. I will not let that old man in. I’m going to work.’”
Those profound words hit Keith like a ton of bricks. He told Wide Open Country that Eastwood’s comments inspired him to put pen to paper and write the tune then and there.
“Red Solo Cup” singer Toby Keith says, “I [asked] ‘What keeps you going?’ and he said ‘I get up every day and don’t let the old man in,’” Keith said. “And I went, ‘I’m writing this damn thing right now.’”
Jerry Jones on How the Song Impacts Him
Back to Jerry Jones, that whole “don’t let the old man in” bit resonates big time with him. The song helped motivate him to continue pursuing his dreams of helping the Cowboys win another championship.
“There was a whole bunch of that, too. He ain’t coming in. We got to get that championship,” Jones said. “There’s no satisfaction here until we get us a Super Bowl win.”
The Cowboys owner then clarified what it is that actually motivated to keep working, just like Eastwood.
Jones continued by adding: “You know, a lot of people think it’s about financial [success], that’s where I get up in the morning and go to bed at night. Well, I gave every dollar for all practical purposes I had to get to be a Dallas Cowboy. And it wasn’t, back then, a given that it was going to be successful. But I did it because I wanted to be right in the spot like we’re in right now. This is where it all happens for me [with] a chance to win the championship.”
Here’s to all the folks out there like Jerry Jones, Clint Eastwood, and Toby Keith not “letting the old man in.”
