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
Should’ve Been a Cowboy
Who’s That Man
Me Too
How Do You Like Me Now
You Shouldn’t Kiss Me Like This
I’m Just Talkin’ About Tonight
I Wanna Talk About Me
My List
Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue (The Angry American)
Who’s Your Daddy?
Beer for My Horses (duet with Willie Nelson)
I Love This Bar
American Soldier
Whiskey Girl
As Good as I Once Was
Love Me If You Can
She Never Cried in Front of Me
God Love Her
American Ride
Made in America

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

Toby Keith Avg. Ticket Prices

City State Venue Name Date Avg. Price
Indio CA Empire Polo Field 4/25/2010 $99.95
Virginia Beach VA Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach 5/21/2010 $81.35
Fort Knox KY Fort Knox Godman Airfield 5/29/2010 $77.00
Aberdeen Proving Ground MD Aberdeen Proving Ground 6/5/2010 $48.50
Salt Lake City UT USANA Amphitheatre 6/12/2010 $88.83
Englewood CO Comfort Dental Amphitheatre 6/13/2010 $129.75
Holmdel NJ PNC Bank Arts Center 6/19/2010 $119.22
Cuyahoga Falls OH Blossom Music Center 6/20/2010 $110.27
Virginia Beach VA Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach 7/9/2010 $71.66
Raleigh NC Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek 7/10/2010 $94.64
Charlotte NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte 7/11/2010 $58.73
Bloomington IL US Cellular Coliseum 7/16/2010 $85.80
Maryland Heights MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheater St. Louis 7/17/2010 $80.00
Boise ID Taco Bell Arena 7/22/2010 $92.28
Ridgefield WA Clark County Amphitheater 7/23/2010 $123.77
Auburn WA White River Amphitheatre 7/24/2010 $66.38
Vancouver BC General Motors Place 7/25/2010 $130.38
Paso Robles CA California Mid-State Fair 7/27/2010 $163.22
Wheatland CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre 7/29/2010 $52.40
Universal City CA Gibson Amphitheatre 7/30/2010 $181.59
Las Vegas NV Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort 7/31/2010 $250.96
Mountain View CA Shoreline Amphitheatre 8/6/2010 $81.35
Chula Vista CA Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre 8/7/2010 $91.30
Phoenix AZ Desert Sky Pavilion 8/8/2010 $92.50
Villanova PA The Pavilion 8/12/2010 $37.11
Englewood CO Comfort Dental Amphitheatre 8/13/2010 $94.73
Salt Lake City UT USANA Amphitheatre 8/14/2010 $81.99
Darien Center NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center 8/20/2010 $95.89
Camden NJ Susquehanna Bank Center 8/21/2010 $88.60
Burgettstown PA First Niagara Pavilion 8/22/2010 $92.79
Moline IL i wireless Center 8/26/2010 $108.94
Cincinnati OH Riverbend Music Center 8/27/2010 $128.10
Noblesville IN Klipsch Music Center 8/28/2010 $98.13
Clarkston MI DTE Energy Music Theatre 8/29/2010 $118.52
Atlanta GA Aarons Amphitheatre at Lakewood 9/2/2010 $83.09
Vail CO Gerald Ford Amphitheatre 9/3/2010 $95.53
West Palm Beach FL Cruzan Amphitheatre 9/4/2010 $96.53
Saint Augustine FL St Augustine Amphitheatre 9/5/2010 $134.32
Manchester NH Verizon Wireless Arena-NH 9/9/2010 $119.35
Scranton PA Toyota Pavilion At Montage Mountain 9/10/2010 $100.03
Bristow VA Jiffy Lube Live 9/11/2010 $108.29
Omaha NE CenturyLink Center Omaha 9/17/2010 $113.52
Tinley Park IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre 9/18/2010 $100.50
Duluth MN Duluth Entertainment Convention Center Arena 9/19/2010 $84.07
Toronto ON Molson Canadian Amphitheatre 9/23/2010 $125.29
Hartford CT Comcast Theatre 9/24/2010 $113.58
Mansfield MA Comcast Center 9/25/2010 $128.33
Thackerville OK WinStar World Casino 10/15/2010 $172.46
West Point NY Eisenhower Hall Theatre 11/11/2010 $181.17
Atlantic City NJ Boardwalk Hall 11/12/2010 $106.86
Mashantucket CT MGM Grand at Foxwoods 2/11/2011 $223.59
Verona NY Turning Stone Casino 2/12/2011 $192.60
Regina SK Brandt Centre 2/22/2011 $160.44
Grande Prairie AB Canada Games Arena 2/24/2011 $189.00
Prince George BC CN Centre 2/25/2011 $137.67
Penticton BC South Okanagan Events Centre 2/26/2011 $124.60
Abbotsford BC Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre 2/27/2011 $145.28
Florence AZ Country Thunder Fairgrounds (Florence) 4/10/2011 $149.00
Hartford CT Comcast Theatre 5/21/2011 $187.00
Charlotte NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte 6/1/2011 $197.55
Milwaukee WI Marcus Amphitheater 7/1/2011 $121.83
Gilford NH Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion 7/8/2011 $112.18
Bangor ME Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion 7/9/2011 $117.54
Cuyahoga Falls OH Blossom Music Center 7/15/2011 $96.04
Saint Augustine FL St Augustine Amphitheatre 7/21/2011 $100.75
Raleigh NC Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek 7/22/2011 $67.24
Virginia Beach VA Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach 7/23/2011 $100.64
Harrington DE Delaware State Fair 7/25/2011 $134.12
Cheyenne WY Cheyenne Frontier Days 7/30/2011 $77.66
Wheatland CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre 8/4/2011 $60.64
Mountain View CA Shoreline Amphitheatre 8/5/2011 $79.73
Las Vegas NV Red Rock Casino 8/6/2011 $163.74
Chula Vista CA Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre 8/12/2011 $83.41
Irvine CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheater 8/13/2011 $100.74
Airway Heights WA Northern Quest Casino 8/18/2011 $99.17
Ridgefield WA Sleep Country Amphitheater 8/19/2011 $109.86
George WA Gorge Amphitheatre 8/20/2011 $65.61
Saint Paul MN Minnesota State Fair Grandstand 8/31/2011 $136.53
Holmdel NJ PNC Bank Arts Center 9/2/2011 $125.76
Burgettstown PA First Niagara Pavilion 9/3/2011 $82.52
Darien Center NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center 9/4/2011 $103.49
Saratoga Springs NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center 9/8/2011 $115.52
Camden NJ Susquehanna Bank Center 9/9/2011 $70.48
Bristow VA Jiffy Lube Live 9/10/2011 $102.70
York PA York Fair 9/14/2011 $122.23
Scranton PA Toyota Pavilion At Montage Mountain 9/15/2011 $75.70
Hartford CT Comcast Theatre 9/16/2011 $81.48
Mansfield MA Comcast Center 9/17/2011 $95.47
Maryland Heights MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheater St. Louis 9/23/2011 $97.02
Tinley Park IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre 9/24/2011 $96.26
Cincinnati OH Riverbend Music Center 9/29/2011 $99.64
Clarkston MI DTE Energy Music Theatre 9/30/2011 $93.40
Noblesville IN Klipsch Music Center 10/1/2011 $72.76
Charlotte NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte 10/7/2011 $86.40
Atlanta GA Aarons Amphitheatre at Lakewood 10/8/2011 $101.88
Tampa FL Live Nation Amphitheatre at the Florida State Fairgrounds 10/14/2011 $94.93
West Palm Beach FL Cruzan Amphitheatre 10/15/2011 $100.23
Verona NY Turning Stone Casino 2/2/2012 $162.59
Uncasville CT Mohegan Sun Arena 2/3/2012 $171.36
Chula Vista CA Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre 3/24/2012 $176.47
Virginia Beach VA Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach 4/26/2012 $189.77
Charlotte NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte 4/27/2012 $305.16
Raleigh NC Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek 4/28/2012 $360.33
Tampa FL Live Nation Amphitheatre at the Florida State Fairgrounds 5/11/2012 $244.63
Dallas TX Gexa Energy Pavilion 5/12/2012 $262.11
Hartford CT Comcast Theatre 5/18/2012 $290.76
Atlanta GA Aarons Amphitheatre at Lakewood 5/19/2012 $222.97
Cincinnati OH Riverbend Music Center 5/20/2012 $287.00
Cuyahoga Falls OH Blossom Music Center 6/1/2012 $276.00
Burgettstown PA First Niagara Pavilion 6/2/2012 $191.83
Bristow VA Jiffy Lube Live 6/3/2012 $497.23
Salt Lake City UT USANA Amphitheatre 6/14/2012 $100.15
Englewood CO Comfort Dental Amphitheatre 6/15/2012 $95.55
Albuquerque NM Isleta Amphitheater 6/16/2012 $98.79
North Platte NE Nebraskaland Grounds 6/22/2012 $98.00
Tinley Park IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre 6/23/2012 $147.14
Clarkston MI DTE Energy Music Theatre 6/29/2012 $77.20
Noblesville IN Klipsch Music Center 6/30/2012 $60.11
Cuyahoga Falls OH Blossom Music Center 7/13/2012 $78.38
Bristow VA Jiffy Lube Live 7/14/2012 $66.32
Raleigh NC Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek 7/15/2012 $55.39
Twin Lakes WI Country Thunder Twin Lakes 7/19/2012 $283.26
Monticello IA Great Jones County Fair 7/21/2012 $92.39
Virginia Beach VA Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach 7/26/2012 $85.54
Burgettstown PA First Niagara Pavilion 7/27/2012 $66.57
Cincinnati OH Riverbend Music Center 7/28/2012 $90.06
Darien Center NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center 7/29/2012 $80.81
Detroit Lakes MN Soo Pass Ranch 8/2/2012 $142.49
Stateline NV Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys 8/8/2012 $157.32
Chula Vista CA Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre 8/9/2012 $81.20
San Bernardino CA San Manuel Amphitheater 8/10/2012 $52.67
Las Vegas NV Red Rock Casino 8/11/2012 $109.35
Mountain View CA Shoreline Amphitheatre 8/12/2012 $66.33
Holmdel NJ PNC Bank Arts Center 8/17/2012 $93.94
Camden NJ Susquehanna Bank Center 8/18/2012 $66.31
Saratoga Springs NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center 8/19/2012 $103.51
Atlanta GA Aarons Amphitheatre at Lakewood 8/24/2012 $66.86
Charlotte NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte 8/25/2012 $59.39
Maryland Heights MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheater St. Louis 9/1/2012 $60.07
Tinley Park IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre 9/2/2012 $81.02
Dallas TX Gexa Energy Pavilion 9/6/2012 $86.82
The Woodlands TX Woodlands Pavilion 9/8/2012 $76.52
West Palm Beach FL Cruzan Amphitheatre 9/15/2012 $81.46
Tampa FL Live Nation Amphitheatre at the Florida State Fairgrounds 9/16/2012 $82.10
Hartford CT Comcast Theatre 9/20/2012 $68.12
Mansfield MA Comcast Center 9/22/2012 $73.45
Durant OK Choctaw Event Center 1/19/2013 $125.00
San Antonio TX AT&T Center 2/9/2013 $94.61
Florence AZ Country Thunder Fairgrounds (Florence) 4/11/2013 $207.91
Indio CA Empire Polo Field 4/26/2013 $618.11
Raleigh NC Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek 5/3/2013 $483.00
Maryland Heights MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheater St. Louis 5/8/2013 $519.50
Holmdel NJ PNC Bank Arts Center 5/15/2013 $288.00
Bristow VA Jiffy Lube Live 5/17/2013 $361.00
Cincinnati OH Riverbend Music Center 5/25/2013 $397.33
Cincinnati OH Riverbend Music Center 6/14/2013 $102.49
Burgettstown PA First Niagara Pavilion 6/15/2013 $70.06
Holmdel NJ PNC Bank Arts Center 6/21/2013 $88.24
Camden NJ Susquehanna Bank Center 6/22/2013 $92.37
Tinley Park IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre 6/30/2013 $136.17
Cuyahoga Falls OH Blossom Music Center 7/19/2013 $112.39
Darien Center NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center 7/21/2013 $110.44
Cheyenne WY Cheyenne Frontier Days 7/27/2013 $93.23
Springfield IL Illinois State Fairgrounds 8/14/2013 $136.60
Sedalia MO Missouri State Fair 8/16/2013 $130.50
Bristow VA Jiffy Lube Live 8/24/2013 $86.60
Hartford CT Comcast Theatre 8/25/2013 $140.68
Allentown PA Allentown Fairgrounds 8/31/2013 $144.54
Essex Junction VT Champlain Valley Expo 9/1/2013 $187.50
Noblesville IN Klipsch Music Center 9/7/2013 $141.17

Toby Keith Videos

“Red Solo Cup”

“Hope On the Rocks”

“American Soldier”

“Made In America”

“How Do You Like Me Now”