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.
How Do You Like Me Now?
Toby Keith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Broke into the stadium
And I wrote your number on the 50 yard line
You were always the perfect one
And a valedictorian so
Under your number I wrote "call for a good time"
I only wanted to get your attention
Besides you had too many boyfriends to mention
And I played my guitar too loud
How do you like me now?
How do you like me now?
Now that I'm on my way?
You still think I'm crazy
Standing here today?
I couldn't make you love me
But I always dreamed about living in your radio
How do you like me now?
When I took off to Tennessee
I heard that you made fun of me
Never imagined I'd make it this far
Then you married into money girl
Ain't it a cruel and funny world?
He took your dreams and he tore them apart
He never comes home
And you're always alone
And your kids hear you cry down the hall
Alarm clock starts ringin'
Who could that be singin'
It's me baby, with your wake up call!
How do you like me now?
How do you like me now?
Now that I'm on my way?
You still think I'm crazy
Standin' here today?
I couldn't make you love me
But I always dreamed about living in your radio
How do you like me now, yeah
How do you like me now?
Now that I'm on my way?
You still think I'm crazy
Standin' here today?
I couldn't make you love me
But I always dreamed about living in your radio
How do you like me now?
Tell me baby
I will preach on
The song "How Do You Like Me Now?" by Toby Keith explores the feelings of a man who was once overlooked by a girl who he had a crush on. He used to be the crazy one who broke into the stadium and wrote her phone number on the fifty-yard line, while she was the perfect one who never noticed him. He admits that he only wanted to get her attention, but she had too many boyfriends to mention, and he played his guitar too loud. He asks her how she likes him now that he's on his way to success, after hearing that she made fun of him when he moved to Tennessee.
The lyrics show the singer's transformation and how he has achieved success, even though he was once overlooked. He mocks the girl who married into money and has a husband who doesn't come home, leaving her alone to cry down the hall. He sings about his victory over the girl who never loved him, but he always dreamed of living in her radio.
This song is an anthem for many people who had a crush on someone who never noticed them. It reflects the American dream of pulling oneself up by one's bootstraps and achieving success against all odds. Keith's message is to keep working hard and never give up, because success is the best revenge.
Line by Line Meaning
I was always the crazy one
I was always impetuous and daring
Who broke into the stadium
I broke into the stadium without permission or authority
And I wrote your number
And I sprayed your phone number
On the fifty yard line
On the field where the crowd could see
You were always the perfect one
You were always scrupulous and excellent
And a valedictorian
And a distinguished scholar who gives the farewell speech at graduation
So under your number I wrote
So beneath your phone number, I wrote
Call for a good time
Please call if interested in a romantic rendezvous
I only wanted to get your attention
I only wanted you to notice me
But you overlooked me somehow
But you didn't acknowledge me in any way
Besides, you had too many boyfriends to mention
Plus, you had numerous boyfriends
And I played my guitar too loud
And I played my guitar with too much volume
How do you like me now
How do you feel about me now
Now that I'm on my way
Now that I'm becoming successful
Do you still think I'm crazy standing here today
Do you still think I'm mentally unhinged, as I stand here today
I couldn't make you love me
I couldn't force you to love me
But I always dreamed about living in your radio
But I always dreamed of having my music played on the radio that you listen to
When I took off to Tennessee
When I went to Tennessee
I heard that you made fun of me
I heard that you mocked me
You never imagined I'd make it this far
You never thought I would achieve such success
Then you married into the money girl
Then you married someone wealthy
Ain't it a cruel and funny world
Isn't it a harsh and ironic world
He took your dreams and he tore them apart
He took your aspirations and destroyed them
He never comes home and you're always alone
He's always absent, and you're always by yourself
And your kids hear you cry down the hall
And your children hear you weeping from another room
Alarm clock starts ringin', who could that be singin'
The alarm clock goes off, who could be singing
It's me, baby, with your wake-up call
It's me, baby, calling to wake you up
Tell Me Baby!
Tell me, darling
I will preach on!
I will continue to speak my mind
Lyrics © Tokeco Tunes, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Chuck Cannon, Toby Keith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheeHoneyBadger7093
Rest in peace, Toby Keith❤ whose rocking this in 2024❤
@itzmeagain291
Lost a legend 😢
@wandacomcy7159
I can't stop crying 😭
@1232hdh
Been playing his songs at work since I heard and wished I took the chance to hear him live lost a good guy and legend to the he history of country music.
@elizabethsmith5107
Rest in peace
@tiffanyshields3366
I think everyone rocking out Toby today and getting high rip Toby😢
@Danimal1177
This may sound corny, but an orange stray kitten was hanging around my house last Friday. He has an injured paw and it was sprinkling, so I let him inside and gave him a can of tuna that he devoured as though he hadn't eaten in days. He became immediately affectionate and insisted on sleeping on my stomach every night. By Monday I decided to keep him but hadn't given him a name yet. The next day I learned of Toby Keith's death, and it just hit me to call him Toby. He'll always be a reminder of one of the greatest singers and patriots of all time.
@stanhunderwood3374
Funny, we adopted a little kitten a year ago. We named him Toby, which is short for the ancient Greek or Hebrew name Tobias, which means "God is good". Indeed He is. God is good, but our little Toby was been a terror through his childhood - but he's finally become human. Toby's a great name!
@Dryicegaming
That’s not corny at all. That’s a great story. I’m personally more of a dog person and as a result of Toby‘s death whenever I decide to get another dog, I think I’m gonna name it Toby.
@unconka-rebeltruth9336
❤