Signed to DreamWorks Records Nashville in 1998, Keith released his breakthrough single "How Do You Like Me Now?!" in late 1999. This song, the title track to his 1999 album of the same name, was the #1 country song of 2000, and one of several chart-toppers during his tenure on DreamWorks Nashville. His next three albums, Pull My Chain, Unleashed, and Shock'n Y'all, produced three more #1's each, and all of the albums were certified 4× Platinum. A second Greatest Hits package followed in 2004, and after that, he released Honkytonk University.
When DreamWorks closed in 2005, Keith founded the label Show Dog Nashville, which merged with Universal South Records to become Show Dog-Universal Music in December 2009. He has released ten studio albums through Show Dog/Show Dog-Universal: 2006's White Trash with Money, 2007's Big Dog Daddy, 2008's That Don't Make Me a Bad Guy, 2009's American Ride, 2010's Bullets in the Gun, 2011's Clancy's Tavern, 2012's Hope on the Rocks, 2013's Drinks After Work, 2015's 35 MPH Town, 2017's The Bus Songs, and 2021's Peso in My Pocket, as well as the compilation 35 Biggest Hits in 2008. Keith also made his acting debut in 2006, starring in the film Broken Bridges, and co-starred with comedian Rodney Carrington in the 2008 film Beer for My Horses, inspired by his song of the same name. On February 5th, 2024, Toby passed away from a 3 year battle with Stomach Cancer.
Ain't Breakin'Nothin'
Toby Keith Lyrics
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But I love you for trying to anyway
You're cryin' and it don't surprise me
That you can't find it in your heart to stay
This ain't the first time to be my own worst enemy
Baby, don't you worry, you found me
You ain't leavin' somethin' that ain't been left
Ain't bringin' me nothin' I don't already know
You ain't doin' nothin' that ain't been done
Ain't startin' somethin' that ain't begun
And you say that it won't kill me to watch you go
But you ain't breakin' nothin' that ain't already broke
I used up all the whiskey
Me and Jesus got by
But still you goodbye kiss me
No matter how hard I try
I'm down lower than I like to go
This ain't the first time that I've dug out of this hole
You ain't sayin' nothin' that ain't been said
You ain't leavin' somethin' that ain't been left
Ain't bringin' me nothin' I don't already know
You ain't doin' nothin' that ain't been done
Ain't startin' somethin' that ain't begun
And you say that it won't kill me to watch you go
But you ain't breakin' nothin' that ain't already broke
Ain't already alone, ain't already dealin' with you bein' gone
You ain't sayin' nothin' that ain't been said
You ain't leavin' somethin' that ain't been left
Ain't bringin' me nothin' I don't already know
You ain't doin' nothin' that ain't been done
Ain't startin' somethin' that ain't begun
I say that it won't kill me to watch you go
Baby, you ain't breakin' nothin' that ain't already broke
Already broke
Already broke
Already broke
The lyrics to Toby Keith's song Ain't Breakin' Nothin' depict a man who warned his partner not to fall in love with him because he knew he would eventually disappoint her, but she did so anyways. The man acknowledges his flaws and how he tends to be his own worst enemy, but he assures his partner that she is not causing any additional damage to him by leaving. The lyrics display a sense of resignation to the end of the relationship, as if the man has already accepted that the relationship was doomed from the start.
The line "You ain't sayin' nothin' that ain't been said" suggests that the man has been through similar heartache before and is familiar with how the situation will play out. He has experienced the same pain and disappointment in previous relationships, and this one is no different. The line "But you ain't breakin' nothin' that ain't already broke" reinforces the idea that the man has already accepted his own flaws and emotional baggage; his partner leaving isn't causing any additional damage because he was already broken.
Overall, the lyrics to Ain't Breakin' Nothin' showcases a sense of acceptance and resolve in the face of heartbreak. The man has already been through this before, and he knows that his partner leaving isn't going to break him any further than he already is.
Line by Line Meaning
I told you when I met you, don't try to love me
I warned you in our first meeting to not fall in love with me.
But I love you for trying to anyway
But I appreciate your effort to love me anyway.
You're cryin' and it don't surprise me
Your tears don't come as a shock to me.
That you can't find it in your heart to stay
I understand that you can't find the love to stay with me.
This ain't the first time to be my own worst enemy
I've been in this situation before where I am causing my own problems.
Baby, don't you worry, you found me
Don't worry, you have found me and I am here to help you.
You ain't sayin' nothin' that ain't been said
You're not telling me anything new.
You ain't leavin' somethin' that ain't been left
You're not leaving anything that hasn't been left before.
Ain't bringin' me nothin' I don't already know
You're not bringing me anything I don't already know.
You ain't doin' nothin' that ain't been done
You're not doing anything that hasn't already been done.
Ain't startin' somethin' that ain't begun
You're not starting anything that hasn't already begun.
And you say that it won't kill me to watch you go
You insist that watching you leave won't hurt me.
But you ain't breakin' nothin' that ain't already broke
But you're not breaking anything that hasn't already been broken.
I used up all the whiskey
I have consumed all the whiskey.
Me and Jesus got by
I managed to get through with the help of Jesus.
But still you goodbye kiss me
But you still kissed me goodbye.
No matter how hard I try
No matter how hard I try, I couldn't make you stay.
I'm down lower than I like to go
I am feeling lower than I want to feel.
This ain't the first time that I've dug out of this hole
I've been in this situation before and I have dug myself out before.
Already broke
Already struggling.
Already broke
Already broken.
Already broke
Already feeling alone after you left.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BOBBY PINSON, TOBY KEITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind