Songs sometimes relay hidden, important messages. The song “Red Solo Cup” by Toby Keith would be a good example. Throughout the song, the artist, Toby Keith uses many literary devices and phrases to tell the listeners about alcohol, parties, and having a good time, without ever mentioning the words alcohol, beer or parties.
Throughout the song, Toby Keith sings about a Red Cup manufactured by Solo. “A red solo cup is cheap and disposable, and in 14 years they are decomposable, and unlike my home, they are not foreclosable.” Toby repeatedly uses rhyme and rhythm to show how it symbolizes alcohol, fun, and parties. The cup was meant for parties, but in this case it is the singer’s friend because he is enjoying life with the cup and having fun with his friends at parties, who are all drinking and partying with it. The cup holds happiness and he thinks of it dearly. He refers the cup as a friend because when he drinks he enjoys himself. He keeps repeating how he keeps filling the cup up and exclaiming, “Let’s have a party, proceed to party!” Toby Keith is trying to sing about how you will fill a cup with alcohol, party, and refill the cup again and drink more, and party even more until you are unable to. Later he talks about how there are many types of Solo Cups, but he only likes the Red one because he’s been drinking with it for so long that he sees it as a habit. As the song progresses you can tell Toby Keith becomes more and more intoxicated. He starts acting sick, and eventually passes out. In the music video you can see him with drawings on his face and everybody laughing at him.
Throughout the song, you can see many references to alcohol, but Toby Keith actually never mentions it. “Now a red solo cup is the best receptacle, For barbecues, tailgates, fairs and festivals, And you, sir, do not have a pair of testicles, If you prefer drinking from glass.” Toby Keith is expressing how the red cup is best for all occasions including barbecues, tailgates, fairs and festivals. Those who drink beer with glasses to act fancy are all girly and unmanly which is why he claims they have no testicles. “A red solo cup is cheap and disposable, And in 14 years they are decomposable, And unlike my home, they are not foreclosable, Freddie-Mac can kiss my ass. Woo!”Toby tells us about how cheap these cups are, and how they can never be taken away from him.
“Red solo cup, I fill you up,Let's have a party, let's have a party, I love you red solo cup, I lift you up, Proceed to party, proceed to party.” The verse is constantly repeated because it tells the listener about how they keep on partying and eventually drinking. The song closes with Toby Keith intoxicated, passed out, and unable to properly make decisions.