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.
Somewhere Else
Toby Keith Lyrics
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To the side street pub with the bar band blues
Take a backseat at the front door table
Order me a Bud and a shot of Black Label
Closed this place down once again
Sittin' here wishin' you'd walk right in
Down my shot, shoot my beer
It's a short, short walk down to my second home
But that boulevard gets longer when you're walkin' back alone
And I don't know where you might be
Wherever it is, it will be without me
I keep thinkin' I'll come home
One day and find you
Long as I got that neon light
Shinin' like a beacon in the night
I know I can make it downtown by myself
'Cause if you don't know where you're goin'
You might end up somewhere else
Kickin' off my shoes, tumblin' through the front door
Knowin' too well the kind of night I'm in for
Cubs got beat again on Sports Center
My bedroom's cold as my tv dinner
One more cigarette and I'll kill the light
And I lay there wishin' you were sleepin' at my side
And I don't know where you might be
Wherever it is, it will be without me
I keep thinkin' I'll come home
One day and find you
Long as I got that front porch light
Shinin' like a beacon in the night
I know I can make it home all by myself
'Cause if you don't know where you're goin'
You might end up somewhere else
Girl, I don't know where you might be
Wherever it is, it will be without me
Keep thinkin' I'll come home
One day and find you
Long as I got that front porch light
Shinin' like a beacon in the night
I know I can make it home all by myself
'Cause if you don't know where you're goin'
You might end up somewhere else
Ah, somewhere else
You might end up somewhere else
Somewhere else
Hey
The lyrics to Toby Keith's song "Somewhere Else" describe a man who is alone in a bar, drinking and thinking about his lost love. He walks downtown in his "broke down shoes" to a pub with a "bar band blues" where he orders a Bud and a shot of Black Label. He closes the place down but is left "Sittin' here wishin' you'd walk right in." The man is aware that he has a problem, as he confesses "I ain't gotta go home but I can't stay here."
He returns home, where he knows what kind of night he's in for. He watches the Cubs lose on Sports Center and his bedroom is cold, just like his TV dinner. He ends up smoking one more cigarette before going to sleep, wishing his lost love was there. The song ends with a warning that "if you don't know where you're going, you might end up somewhere else."
Line by Line Meaning
I walk downtown in my broke down shoes
I'm wandering through the streets of the city in my worn-out shoes, with no particular destination.
To the side street pub with the bar band blues
I'm heading to a small bar where there's a band playing blues music.
Take a backseat at the front door table
I'll sit at one of the unimportant tables near the entrance, not trying to draw attention to myself.
Order me a Bud and a shot of Black Label
I'll order a beer and a whiskey, as I don't have anything else to do.
Closed this place down once again
The bar is about to close, which has happened to me many times before.
Sittin' here wishin' you'd walk right in
I hope and dream for the return of the one I'm missing.
Down my shot, shoot my beer
I'll drink my whiskey and beer hastily.
I ain't gotta go home but I can't stay here
I don't have anything to do, but I don't want to stay here all the same.
It's a short, short walk down to my second home
The nightclub where I'm headed next is nearby.
But that boulevard gets longer when you're walkin' back alone
The road appears to be longer when you're wandering through it alone.
And I don't know where you might be
I have no idea where you are.
Wherever it is, it will be without me
Wherever you are, you'll be without me.
I keep thinkin' I'll come home
I keep getting my hopes up that I'll come back home to you.
One day and find you
And I'll find you on that day.
Long as I got that neon light
As long as the bright neon light is shining, I know I'll make it back downtown on my own.
Shinin' like a beacon in the night
It illuminates the night like a guiding light.
Kickin' off my shoes, tumblin' through the front door
I enter my home, exhausted, and kick off my shoes, haphazardly making my way inside.
Knowin' too well the kind of night I'm in for
I'm aware of the kind of night I'm going to have when I get home alone.
Cubs got beat again on Sports Center
I watch the game and see that the Cubs lost again, as I try to distract myself from my loneliness.
My bedroom's cold as my tv dinner
My room is as cold as the TV dinner I'm eating, reflecting my solitude.
One more cigarette and I'll kill the light
I'll smoke another cigarette before turning off the light and going to bed.
And I lay there wishin' you were sleepin' at my side
As I lay in bed, I wish you could be here with me, sleeping at my side.
Girl, I don't know where you might be
Girl, I'm not sure where you could be.
Long as I got that front porch light
As long as the porch light is shining, I know I'll make it back home on my own.
Hey
An exclamation of hope or excitement.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: BOBBY PINSON, TOBY KEITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind