William Quincy Belle: Toby Keith: As Good As I Once Was

Tuesday, 16 February 2021

Toby Keith: As Good As I Once Was

Published on July 16, 2009 by Toby Keith
YouTube: Toby Keith - As Good As I Once Was (Official Music Video) (4:32)

She said I seen you in here before
I said I been here a time or two
She said "Hello my name is Bobby Jo,
Meet my twin sister Betty Lou
And we're both feelin' kinda wild tonight
You're the only cowboy in this place
And if you're up for a rodeo
I'll put a big Texas smile on your face"
I said "Girls..."

I ain't as good as I once was
I got a few years on me now
But there was a time, back in my prime
When I could really lay it down
If you need some love tonight
Then I might have just enough
I ain't as good as I once was, but I'm as good once
As I ever was

I still hang out with my best friend Dave
I've known him since we were kids at school
Last night he had a few shots, got in a tight spot
Hustlin' a game of pool
With a couple of redneck boys
One great big fat biker man
I heard David yell across the room
"Hey buddy, how 'bout a helpin' hand"
I said "Dave..."

I ain't as good as I once was
My how the years have flown
But there was a time, back in my prime
When I could really hold my own
If you want to fight tonight
Guess them boys don't look all that tough
I ain't as good as I once was, but I'm as good once
As I ever was

I used to be hell on wheels
Back when I was a younger man
Now my body says "You can't do this boy"
But my pride says "Oh yes, you can"

I ain't as good as I once was
That's just the cold hard truth
I still throw a few back, talk a little smack
When I'm feelin' bullet proof
So don't double-dog dare me now
'Cause I'd have to call your bluff
I ain't as good as I once was, but I'm as good once
As I ever was
May not be good as I once was, but I'm as good once
As I ever was

References

Wikipedia: As Good as I Once Was
"As Good as I Once Was" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Toby Keith that reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. This song and his 2003 single "Beer for My Horses" are both his longest-running Number One hits, each having spent six weeks at Number One. "As Good As I Once Was" was released in May 2005 as the second single from Keith's album Honkytonk University. Keith wrote the song with Scotty Emerick.

The song was named BMI's song of the Year for 2006. It has since become one of Keith's signature songs, as well as one of his most successful.

Wikipedia: Toby Keith
Toby Keith Covel (born July 8, 1961) is an American country singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer.
...
Keith has released 19 studio albums, two Christmas albums, and five compilation albums; a total worldwide sales of over 40 million albums. He has charted 61 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including 20 number one hits and 21 additional top 10 hits. His longest-lasting number one hits are "Beer for My Horses" (a 2003 duet with Willie Nelson) and "As Good as I Once Was" (2005), at six weeks each. Keith was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Donald Trump in a closed ceremony alongside Ricky Skaggs on January 13, 2021.

official web site: Toby Keith

How I discovered this song
When I turned sixty a few years back, I had my eye-opening moment about age and thought about the idea of "I'm not as good as I once was." Somewhere along the way, I heard the entire quote and soon after, discovered the line in the lyrics to the Toby Keith song. Oddly enough, or amusingly enough, I never bothered to look up the song and only just heard it for the first time a few days before making this blog posting. The song's fun, and the video is funny. Mr. Keith doesn't take himself seriously, and I can see why it was a hit for him.

I'm writing this at the age of 68. While I know I'm not as good as I once was, I have to chuckle as to whether I'm even good once as I ever was. It's downhill from here, and my best bet is to slow that slide as much as possible. I'm never going to be forty again. Heck, not even fifty! I must look at life in general and my life specifically with a sense of humour.