Toby Keith Should’ve Been A Cowboy- But We’re Glad He’s Not

• Toby Keith Bio
• Songs
• Lyrics
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Toby Keith Bio

Like the subject of a song he could have written, superstar Toby Keith’s rise to success, from oil-hand to award-winner, is a tale of hard work – and a little luck. Born in 1961 in Clinton, OK, Keith grew up an average small-town All American, a football player, a lover of country music and a worker of the land. After high school, the singer got a job as a derrick hand in the nearby oil fields, eventually working his way up to operation manager. Though he played music with local band Easy Money in his downtime, Keith was often called away from his performances to attend to the fields.

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Luckily for the course of country music, the Oklahoma oil industry took a hit in 1982, and Keith found himself without a job. Naturally, Nashville called several years later, and Keith soon moved to Tennessee, peddling his demo tapes to any and every music industry who would open a hand. No one showed much interest until a flight attendant friend slipped his tape to an executive aboard one of her flights. Harold Shedd of Mercury Records had taste enough to like what he heard, and agreed to sign Keith. Their partnership resulted in a No. 1 single straight out of the gate, with Keith’s debut song, “Should’ve Been A Cowboy,” skyrocketing to Billboard’s top spot. His first album also went platinum.

Since then, Toby Keith has released 16 studio albums and won numerous American Music, Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association awards. He’s one of country music’s most popular singers, with considerable cross-genre appeal. He also happens to be touring, so if you’d like to catch the legend live in person, be sure to scroll through our list of discount ticket links below!

Toby Keith Songs

No. 1 Singles

Toby Keith Lyrics

“Should’ve Been A Cowboy”

I bet you’ve never heard ole Marshall Dillion say
Miss Kitty have you ever thought of running away
Settling down will you marry me
If I asked you twice and begged you pretty please
She’d of said Yes in a New York minute
They never tied the knot
His heart wasn’t in it
He stole a kiss as he road away
He never hung his hat up at Kitty’s place

I should’ve been a Cowboy
I should’ve learned to rope and ride
Wearing my six-shooter riding my pony on a cattle drive
Stealing the young girl’s hearts
Just like Gene and Roy
Singing those campfire songs
I should’ve been a cowboy

I might of had a side kick with a funny name
Running wild through the hills chasing Jesse James
Ending up on the brink of danger
Riding shotgun for the Texas Rangers
Go west young man, haven’t you been told
California’s full of whisky, women and gold
Sleeping out all night beneath the desert stars
Dream in my eye and a prayer in my heart

I should’ve been a Cowboy
I should’ve learned to rope and ride
Wearing my six-shooter riding my pony on a cattle drive
Stealing the young girl’s hearts
Just like Gene and Roy
Singing those campfire songs
I should’ve been a cowboy

I should’ve been a Cowboy
I should’be learned to rope and ride
Wearing my six-shooter riding my pony on a cattle drive
Stealing the young girl’s hearts
Just like Gene and Roy
Singing those campfire songs
I should’ve been a Cowboy [x4]

“Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue”

American girls and American guys, will always stand up and salute.
We’ll always recognize, when we see ol’ glory flying,
There’s a lot of men dead,
So we can sleep in peace at night when we lay down our heads.
My daddy served in the army where he lost his right eye,
But he flew a flag out in our yard ’til the day that he died.
He wanted my mother, my brother, my sister and me.
To grow up and live happy in the land of the free.

Now this nation that I love is fallin’ under attack.
A mighty sucker-punch came flying in from somewhere in the back.
Soon as we could see clearly through our big black eye,
Man, we lit up your world like the fourth of July.

Hey, Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list,
And the Statue of Liberty started shaking her fist.
And the eagle will fly and it’s gonna be hell,
When you hear Mother Freedom start ringing her bell.
And it’ll feel like the whole wide world is raining down on you.
Ah, brought to you, courtesy of the red, white and blue.

Instrumental break.

Oh, justice will be served and the battle will rage:
This big dog will fight when you rattle his cage.
An’ you’ll be sorry that you messed with the U.S. of A.
‘Cos we’ll put a boot in your ass, it’s the American way.

Hey, Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list,
And the Statue of Liberty started shaking her fist.
And the eagle will fly and it’s gonna be hell,
When you hear Mother Freedom start ringing her bell.
And it’ll feel like the whole wide world is raining down on you.
Ah, brought to you, courtesy of the red, white and blue.

Oh, oh.
Of the red, white and blue.
Oh, hey, oh.
Of my Red, White and Blue.

“Beer For My Horses”

Well a man come on the 6 o’clock news
Said somebody’s been shot, somebody’s been abused
Somebody blew up a building
Somebody stole a car
Somebody got away
Somebody didn’t get too far yeah
They didn’t get too far

Grandpappy told my pappy, back in my day, son
A man had to answer for the wicked that he done
Take all the rope in Texas
Find a tall oak tree, round up all of them bad boys
Hang them high in the street for all the people to see that

(Chorus)
Justice is the one thing you should always find
You got to saddle up your boys
You got to draw a hard line
When the gun smoke settles we’ll sing a victory tune
We’ll all meet back at the local saloon
We’ll raise up our glasses against evil forces
Singing whiskey for my men, beer for my horses

We got too many gangsters doing dirty deeds
We’ve got too much corruption, too much crime in the streets
It’s time the long arm of the law put a few more in the ground
Send ’em all to their maker and he’ll settle ’em down
You can bet he’ll set ’em down ’cause

(Chorus x2)

“As Good As I Once Was”

She said, “I’e seen you in here before.”
I said, “I’ve been here a time or two.”
She said, “Hello, my
Name is Bobby Jo
Meet my twin sister Betty Lou
And we’re both feeling kinda wild tonight
And you’re the only cowboy in this place
And if you’re up for a rodeo
We’ll put a big Texas smile on
Your face”
I said, “Girls,”

[Chorus]
I ain’t as good as I once was
I got a few years on me now
But there was a time back in my prime

When I could really lay it down
And if you need some love tonight
Then I might have just enough
I ain’t as good as I once was
But I’m as good once as I ever was

I still hang out with my best friend dave
Ive known him since we were kids at school
Last night he
Had a few shots
Got in a tight spot hustlin’ a game of pool
With a couple of redneck boys
One great
Big bad biker man
I heard David yell across the room
“Hey buddy, how ’bout a helping hand.”
I said, “Dave,”

[Chorus]
I ain’t as good as I once was
My how the years have flown
But there was a time back in my prime

When I could really hold my own
But if you wanna fight tonight
Guess thouse boys dont look all that
Tough
I ain’t as good as I once was
But I’m as good once as I ever was

I used to be hell on wheels
Back when I was younger man
Now my body says, “You can’t do this boy”

But my pride says, “Oh, yes you can

I ain’t as good as I once was
Thats just the cold hard truth
I still throw a few back, talk a little smack
When I’m feelin bullet proof
So don’t double dog dare me now
‘Cause I’d have to call your bluff

I ain’t as good as I once was
But I’m as good once as I ever was
Maybe not be good as I once was
But I’m as good once as I ever was

“I Love This Bar”

We got winners, we got losers
Chain smokers and boozers
And we got yuppies, we got bikers
We got thristy hitchhikers
And the girls next door dress up like movie stars

Hmm, hmm, hmm I love this bar

We got cowboys, we got truckers
Broken-hearted fools and suckers
And we got hustlers, we got fighters
Early birds and all-nighters
And the veterans talk about their battle scars

Hmm, hmm, hmm I love this bar

[Chorus:]
I love this bar
It’s my kind of place
Just walkin’ through the front door
Puts a big smile on my face
It ain’t too far, come as you are
Hmm, hmm, hmm I love this bar

I’ve seen short skirts, we got high-techs
Blue-collar boys and rednecks
And we got lovers, lots of lookers
And I’ve even seen dancing girls and hookers
And we like to drink our beer from a mason jar

Hmm, hmm, hmm I love this bar
Yes I do

I like my truck (I like my truck)
I like my girlfriend (I like my girlfriend)
I like to take her out to dinner
I like a movie now and then

But I love this bar
It’s my kind of place
Just trollin’ around the dance floor
Puts a big smile on my face
No cover charge, come as you are
Hmm, hmm, hmm I love this bar
Hmm, hmm, hmm I love this bar

We got divorcees and a big bouncer man
An old jukebox and a real bad band
We got waitresses and we got barflies
A dumb-ass and a wise-guy
If you get too drunk just sleep out in your car

Reason number 672 why

Hmm, hmm, hmm I love this bar
Play it on out boys
Beer-thirty’s over
Got to take it on home

Hmm, hmm, hmm I love this bar
I just love it

Toby Keith Concert Tickets

• Oct 20 Sat · 5:30 PM
  Musicfest XXXI with Toby Keith, Justin Moore

  MAD Amphitheater · El Dorado, AR
  Tickets
• Oct 26 Fri · 7:30 PM
  Toby Keith with Ned LeDoux

  Red Rock Casino · Las Vegas, NV
  Tickets
• Oct 27 Sat · 8:00 PM
  Toby Keith

  Agua Caliente Casino · Rancho Mirage, CA
  Tickets

Toby Keith Avg. Ticket Prices

Toby Keith Videos

“Red Solo Cup”

“Hope On the Rocks”

“American Soldier”

“Made In America”

“How Do You Like Me Now”