This moment was captured after Toby Keith had spent nearly three decades on the road — alongside a longtime friend, somewhere backstage, in the later years of his life. He threw one arm around his buddy’s shoulders, the other holding that familiar red cup. Toby always had a way of making people feel at ease. Whether it was a big show or a cramped backstage hallway lit by fluorescent lights — he remained true to himself: simple, funny, and fully present in every moment.

“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.”

Introduction

Some songs come from a place so raw, so personal, they don’t just tug at your heart — they walk right into it and sit down for a while. “Cryin’ For Me (Wayman’s Song)” is one of those.

Toby Keith didn’t write this song to top charts or chase radio plays. He wrote it as a goodbye — to one of his dearest friends, Wayman Tisdale, a former NBA player turned jazz musician. Wayman passed away from cancer in 2009, and his death hit Toby hard. But instead of speaking at the funeral, Toby did what he does best: he wrote a song. And honestly? It might be the most vulnerable we’ve ever heard him.

What makes “Cryin’ For Me” special isn’t just the words — though they’re powerful in their own right. It’s the silence between the lines, the ache in Toby’s voice, the way the saxophone weeps through the track like a friend standing beside you, not saying a word, just being there. That’s real grief. That’s love.

And it’s more than just a tribute. It’s a moment — frozen in music — where you realize that loss is never neat, never simple. It’s messy, confusing, full of memories and sudden smiles, followed by deep, hard tears. Toby doesn’t sugarcoat it. He lets us sit with him in that ache. And somehow, that makes us feel a little less alone in our own.

Whether or not you knew Wayman Tisdale doesn’t matter. What matters is that this song reminds us how lucky we are to have someone worth missing.

Video

Lyrics

[Intro]
Sorry you missed me I’ll get back to you as soon as I can, thank you and God bless

[Verse 1]
Got the news on Friday mornin’
But a tear I couldn’t find
You showed me how I am supposed to live
And now you showed me how to die
I was lost ’til Sunday morning
I woke up to face my fear
While writing you this good-bye song I found a tear

[Chorus]
I’m gonna miss that smile
I’m gonna miss you my friend
Even though it hurts the way it ended up
I’d do it all again
So play it sweet in Heaven
‘Cause that’s right where you wanna be
I’m not cryin’ ’cause I feel so sorry for ya
I’m cryin’ for me

[Verse 2]
I got up and dialed your number
And your voice came on the line
With that old familiar message
I’ve heard a thousand times
It just said, “Sorry that I missed you
Leave a message and God bless”
I know that you think I’m crazy
But I had to hear your voice I guess

[Bridge]
Oh
So play your upside down, left handed
Backwards bass guitar
I’ll see you on the other side, superstar

Country Music

“Toby Keith – The Man Who Got Up After Illness To Sing His Last Songs”. When Toby Keith announced that he was battling stomach cancer, many people thought he would retire from the stage to rest in peace. But no. Toby still sang, still performed on stage, still smiled, still held a prosthetic hand, despite his increasingly poor health. He did not want his fans to remember him as a patient, but as a strong singer until his last days.

Country Music

It was a warm summer night in Oklahoma, and Toby Keith was playing one of his signature rowdy shows. As the crowd raised their Red Solo Cups in unison, laughing and singing, Toby spotted a young man near the front row—dressed in military fatigues, arm in a sling, but grinning from ear to ear. After the song, Toby walked over, handed him a cup, and said, “This one’s on me, hero.” The crowd erupted. The soldier later shared that during his long recovery overseas, it was “Red Solo Cup” that reminded him of home—of barbecues, friends, and carefree nights.That simple plastic cup wasn’t just a party symbol—it was comfort, belonging, and joy bottled in a tune. Toby had always said the song was silly fun, but moments like that made it something more. It connected people. It made them laugh. And sometimes, it even healed.That night, the soldier toasted not just to life—but to the power of music in a Red Solo Cup.

Country Music

Just a few months before he left this world, Toby Keith was still standing on stage in Tulsa. The lights weren’t as bright as they once were, and his voice carried a touch of weariness — but his presence never wavered. That night, there was one song he couldn’t leave out of the setlist: “Love Me If You Can.” Not because it was a hit. But because it was a declaration. A declaration from a man who never apologized for living by what he believed in. “I’m a man of my convictions, call me wrong or right…” Toby sang it like a farewell — not with tears, but with truth. He never tried to please everyone. He just tried to live fully — in line with his own heart.

Related Post

You Missed