Country Music

“You have taken your dreams far away… and you are still home.” – Tricia Lucus remembers her late husband Toby Keith at the Country Music Hall of Fame . She did not come to repeat the glories. She came to keep the last promise. 🎧Listen “Crying for Me (Wayman’s Song)” – The song is like a gentle word – a song for a deceased friend, the same way Toby once said goodbye… now sung backwards to himself

Introduction

Picture background

Toby Keith’s “Cryin’ for Me (Wayman’s Song)” is a heartfelt mid‑tempo country ballad released on October 26, 2009, as the second single from his American Ride album. Running 4:46 on the album (3:45 radio edit), it features Keith on vocals and acoustic guitar, with emotive saxophone solos by Dave Koz, underpinned by jazz virtuosos Arthur Thompson and Marcus Miller .

Written as a tribute to Olympic and NBA basketball legend and jazz bassist Wayman Tisdale, who passed away on May 15, 2009, the song reflects Keith’s personal grief . Tisdale’s vibrant life—as a three‑time All‑American at the University of Oklahoma, 12‑year NBA pro, and accomplished jazz musician—deeply moved Keith . In his lyrics, Keith explores mourning not just for Tisdale, but for himself, capturing grief as a journey into the narrator’s own sorrow and vulnerability.

Keith penned the song in the two days between Tisdale’s death and funeral, intending to perform it at the service. Yet at the memorial, overcome with emotion, he chose to sing Willie Nelson’s “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground” instead . With its poignant saxophone embellishments, the song stands apart from conventional country fare—blending jazz textures into a deeply personal homage.

Critics lauded the tribute: Billboard’s Ken Tucker praised Koz’s saxophone as perfectly complementing Keith’s tender delivery, while Others like Roughstock’s Bobby Peacock deemed it one of Keith’s finest releases . The single reached No. 6 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and earned gold certification, both honoring Tisdale’s legacy and showcasing Keith’s emotional depth as an artist .

In sum, “Cryin’ for Me (Wayman’s Song)” marks a powerful fusion of friendship, loss, country, and jazz—portraying grief not as the death itself, but as an emotional echo felt by the bereaved, making it a standout tribute in Keith’s catalogue and a poignant homage to Wayman Tisdale.

Video

https://youtu.be/AHZCAcSh7ls?si=sG5M8r-E1mCr3LN2

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

[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

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

[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
[Outro]
I’m still cryin’
I’m cryin’ for me
Oh
I’m still cryin’

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