She Left Me
Toby Keith
I wrote that about 10 years ago and always thought that was a
funny title. The only reason you've got to tell anyone why she's not there
is because she left me. There's no denying anything. We'd still be
together, but. He goes through the motions to try to explain everything,
but in the end he's only got one excuse for her not being there. Real hot
picking on the tune. Really lands solid.
Knock Yourself Out
Toby Keith/Scotty Emerick/Dean Dillon
We kind of had a little bit of an idea, but couldn't get it to
work. We were about to put it to rest and not do it, and then it all came
out at once. Great melody, a lot of people like it. It didn't completely
knock me out at first, but by the time it was finished it was pretty good.
When I played it in the studio it just came to life. Fits in really nice
on the album.
You Ain't Leavin' (Thank God Are Ya)
Toby Keith/Scotty Emerick/Dean Dillon
Dean told a story about his grandmother, they were very poor
and got government assisted food. Lived back in the mountains. Whenever
the truck would come by with their government food all the kinfolk would
come down out of the mountains and eat her out of house and home for two
or three days until the food gave out. Then they'd all head back home.
She'd stand on the front porch and yell, "You ain't leavin' thank God are
ya?" We sat down one night and wrote that, of course, about a girl.
I Got It Bad
Toby Keith/Chuck Cannon
We wrote that six or seven years ago and kept looking for a
place to use it. That's a real dramatic setting and a wonderful, moody
vocal on it. Really shows off my range. It's kind of an old school Toby
song. It's got that big "We Were In Love" vibe, but see that was a Chuck
Cannon song, too. It's always fresh to write with Chuck. He, Scotty and
Dean are the guys I write with most.
Your Smile
Toby Keith/Scotty Emerick
It came off a little soft for the way I usually write. It's a
little sappy, a little gushy. But I loved the idea of turn your frown
upside down because you never know who might be falling in love with your
smile. Again, Mr. Fix-It-Up coming by to fix all broken hearts.
Where You Gonna Go
Toby Keith/Scotty Emerick
Classic, sad country song. I've played it for some people who
have teared up over it. It's a story about young love maturing all the way
to where they've had a son and he grows up. She ends up saying some of the
same things to her son she had to say to her husband. She's hard luck,
always worrying about the men in her life more than herself. Pretty
cleverly crafted, I'm very happy with the work in the verses.
You Caught Me At A Bad Time
Toby Keith/Scotty Emerick
The idea was he got out of one relationship but wasn't over it
enough to start another one up. He's found a great girl, better than
probably any girl he's ever found in his life, They both know he's still
not over the last one. He's saying, you're the one, should be, and deserve
to be, but you caught me at a bad time.