Val Kilmer’s Iconic Line In “Tombstone” Inspired Toby Keith’s 2002 Song
Toby Keith performing live in 2011 (Photo Credit: Christopher Polk/ACA2011/Getty Images for ACA) / Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday in Tombstone (Photo credit: JoBlo Movie Clips / YouTube)
Toby Keith’s Team Revealed Val Kilmer’s Line In The 1993 Film Tombstone Inspired Him
They say inspiration can come from anywhere, and as a songwriter, Toby Keith drew inspiration from Val Kilmer’s character in Tombstone.
In 2002, Toby Keith released his album Unleashed. It included the iconic songs “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue,” Who’s Your Daddy?” and “Beer For My Horses.” It also had lesser-known songs like “That’s Not How It Is” and “Huckleberry.”
In “Huckleberry,” Toby sings,
“Baby I’ll be your Huckleberry, you don’t have to double dare meIf the storm gets wild and scary count on me to be right thereYou’re so extra ordinary sweet like maraschino cherriesWe’ll grow up and we’ll get marriedI’m gonna be your Huckleberry”
So, how did Val Kilmer inspire him? The movie Tombstone.
Kilmer Starred In Tombstone As Doc Holliday
Doc Holliday was an American West icon, best known for his participation in the iconic O.K. Corral shootout in Tombstone, Arizona.
Some have called his performance in Tombstone the best of his career. It seems Toby Keith may have thought the same.
RELATED: 7+ Facts About The Iconic 1993 Film “Tombstone”
Kilmer passed away on April 1 from pneumonia at the age of 65, following a decade of battling throat cancer. On April 3, Toby’s team shared a video on social media with a clip from Tombstone of Kilmer saying his iconic “I’m your Huckleberry” line.
The phrase “I’ll be your huckleberry” essentially means “I’m the one you want” or “I’m the man for the job.”
@gourmetspud I say both “I’m your huckleberry” AND “I’ll be your huckleberry…” I say it twice in the film.
— Val Kilmer (@valkilmer) November 18, 2014
The post had a caption on the video that said, “Toby always said that song inspiration could come from anywhere. This line from Tombstone is what inspired Toby to write the song ‘Huckleberry’.”
The post read, “Thanks for inspiring Toby. RIP Val Kilmer.”
View this post on Instagram
Maybe Val Kilmer and Toby Keith are now chatting about the “Huckleberry” song. Listen to it below.
