Toby Keith, country singer-songwriter, dies at 62 after stomach cancer diagnosis | WesternSlopeNow.com

About the Song

Strap yourselves in for a heartfelt journey with Toby Keith’s emotional ballad, “Time That It Would Take”. Released in 2008, this song isn’t your typical foot-stomping country anthem Keith is known for. Instead, it delves into the complexities of love, loss, and the lingering effects of a broken relationship.

Keith, with his signature gruff charm, paints a poignant picture of a man grappling with the aftermath of a love that has faded. The lyrics explore the lingering pain and the struggle to move on. The title itself, “Time That It Would Take”, hints at the unknown duration of healing and the yearning for closure.

The beauty of the song lies in its relatable themes. Whether it’s a romantic heartbreak, a friendship gone sour, or the loss of a loved one, the song resonates with anyone who has experienced the lingering effects of a significant bond dissolving.

“Time That It Would Take” doesn’t offer easy answers or a quick fix. It acknowledges the emotional rollercoaster of healing, capturing the yearning for the past alongside the determination to move forward. The song’s strength lies in its raw honesty, allowing listeners to connect with the protagonist’s vulnerability.

Musically, the track takes a more subdued approach compared to Keith’s usual energetic style. The gentle strumming of the guitar and the melancholic melody create a contemplative atmosphere, further emphasizing the introspective nature of the lyrics.

“Time That It Would Take” is a testament to Toby Keith’s artistic range. While known for his rowdy anthems, this song showcases his ability to deliver a powerful ballad that tugs at the heartstrings. It’s a song for those who need a moment of reflection, a reminder that healing takes time, and the journey towards emotional wholeness can be a long and complex one.Toby Keith's Best Songs: 'Should've Been a Cowboy,' 'Who's That Man'

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Lyrics: Time That It Would Take

Forget about my crazy days
Forget about my checkered past
What’s all this Interrogatin?
Baby, forget about that
You don’t want to ask no questions
You don’t know the answers to
You might wish that I was lying
Once you heard the brutal truth
I can think a thousand things i’d rather do with youIn the time that it would take me to explain the way I am
Honey I could be well on my way to being your new man
We could waste the day away digging up my buried bones
Or you could turn it up and shake it, shake it all night long
I could rationalize and apologize and justify my way right in your door
But in the time that it would take me to tell you where i’ve been
Honey I could take you places you ain’t never been beforeYeah come on girl now don’t you judge me
Come on girl cut me some slack
Once I get you where i’m going baby you’ll come on back
You and me are gas and matches
You and me could take this town
Light it up and get her smokin’
You and me could burn it down
Or you could get all hung up on
How much i’ve been aroundIn the time that it would take me to explain the way I am
Honey I could be well on my way to being your new man
We could waste the day away digging up my buried bones
Or you could turn it up and shake it, shake it all night long
I could rationalize and apologize and justify my way right in your door
But in the time that it would take me to tell you where i’ve been
Honey I could take you places you ain’t never been beforeYeah In the time that it would take me to explain the way I am
I could be well on my way to being your new man
We could waste the day away digging up my buried bones
Or you could turn it up and shake it, shake it all night long
I could rationalize and apologize and justify my way right in your door
But in the time that it would take me to tell you where i’ve been
Honey I could take you places you ain’t never been before

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Before he ever stepped up to center stage under his own name, Cal Smith spent years standing quietly in the shadows as a sideman, playing guitar behind country legend Ernest Tubb. Born Calvin Shofner in Oklahoma and raised in California, he paid his dues in clubs and on radio before joining the Texas Troubadours in the early 1960s, watching other stars soak up the applause while his own solo ambitions moved at a crawl. By 1972, Smith was well into his late thirties with little more than modest chart placings to show for his efforts. Everything flipped when fellow songwriter Bill Anderson handed him “The Lord Knows I’m Drinking,” a sharp track about a man taking heat from a churchgoer whose own hands weren’t exactly clean. The single struck a nerve, shooting straight to No. 1. The true lightning strike arrived soon after. In December 1973, Smith walked into Bradley’s Barn to lay down Don Wayne’s “Country Bumpkin.” Tracing an ordinary man’s journey through marriage, children, and the devastating loss of his wife, the song packed an entire lifetime into a few poignant verses and climbed to the top of the charts in 1974. The accolades poured in, sweeping Single Record and Song of the Year at the ACM Awards, alongside a CMA Song of the Year honor for the writing. Smith quickly proved he wasn’t a one-hit wonder by following up with another chart-topper, “It’s Time to Pay the Fiddler.” After more than a decade of holding down the rhythm section for everyone else, Cal Smith’s long-delayed moment in the sun finally arrived—forever stamping his voice onto one of the defining country anthems of the 1970s.