              ,TOBY ,KEI?

  ,TOBY ,KEI?1 "O ( ,C.TRY MUSIC'S NEWE/
SUP]/>S1 0 APPROA*+ ?IRTY & FEEL+
?OR\<LY 4C\RAG$ AB ! SL[ PACE ( 8 C>E]4
  ,AL? ! ,OKLAHOMA NATIVE ASPIR$ 62COME
A RECORD+ >TI/1 :AT HE F.D1 9/1D1 7 JOBS
P]=M+ AT LOCAL HONKYTONKS = BE]S & TIPS4
  ,S ! S+] & S;GWRIT] SET HMF A D1DL9E1
ASK+ ,GOD 6LET HM "K 0HIS ?IRTIE? BIR?"D
:E!R OR N HE %D 3T9UE PURSU+ 8 DR1M4
  ,M* 6HIS AMAZE;T1 J A FEW "DS 2F HE
TURN$ ?IRTY1 ,TOBY RCVD A V SPECIAL
BIR?"D PRES5T--A RECORD 3TRACT6
  ,) 8 #AIIB ,M]CURY ,RECORDS DEBUT
ALBUM TOTAL+ SALES ( CLOSE 6A MILLION
COPIES1 &A CURR5T 3TRACT ) ,POLYDOR
,RECORDS1 ,TOBY HAS 2COME "O (
,NA%VILLE'S HOTTE/ NEW P]=M]S4 ,9 ! WAKE
( 8 SU3ESS1 ! 5T]TA9] HAS N =GOTT5 :O IS
RESPONSI# = X4
  8,I [E "EY?+ ,I H 6MY ,CR1TOR4 ,I ALW
KEEP MY FEET ON ! GR.D & REMEMB] :O IS
RE,Y RESPONSI# = MY C>E]40
  ,TOBY ,KEI? -ES 0HIS CR$5TIALS Z A
BLUE-COLL> POET H"O/LY4
  ,! ?IRTY-SIX-YE>-OLD HUSKY-VOIC$1
CURLY-HAIR$ S+] & S;GWRIT]1 :O GREW UP
ON A F>M J \TSIDE ( ,OKLAHOMA ,C;Y1 HAS
"W$ Z AN OIL RIG R\<NECK & OP],NAL
MANAG]1 A TE/ RID] ( BULLS & BRONCOS
DUR+ 8 SUMM]S 9 HI< S*OOL1 &= TWO S1SONS
Z A SEMIPRO FOOTBALL PLAY] )A F>M T1M =!
N[-DEFUNCT ,U4,S4 ,FOOTBALL ,L1GUE4
  ,HE AL CUT 8 TEE? ON A /R+ ( "O-NI<T &
"O-WEEK 5GAGE;TS 9 ! HONKY-TONKS (
,OKLAHOMA1 ,TEXAS1 & ,L\ISIANA1 "S?+ T1
?ANKS 6HIS CURR5T SU3ESS1 HE NO L;G]
NE$S 6D 6E>N A LIV+4
  ,)! REL1SE ( 8 SECOND ALBUM1 ,BOOMT[N1
,TOBY IS TD 3SID]$ "O ( ,NA%VILLE'S
B"RE/ TAL5TS4 ,:5 ! SUP]/> REFLECTS ON 8
CURR5T SU3ESS1 X IS )! SAME NO-NONS5SE
MANN] T "*IZ$ 8 APPROA* 6HIS PREVI\S
JOBS4
  8,X'S A JOB T 9VOLVES LOTS ( H>D "W &
PAYS WELL10 HE /ATES4 8,I J DON'T LET X
G 6MY H1D4 ,I DIDN'T H X EASY GETT+ "H1
2C ANY K9D ( SU3ESS IS GO+ 6BE H>D1 B N[
T ,I'M "H ,I'M N A SUP]FICIAL P]SON--,I
/ DRIVE MY PICKUP40
  ,TOBY RECOLLECTS A P]IOD 9 8 LIFE :5
HE D\BT$ ALL 8 /RU7LES Z A P]=M] WD AM.T
6ANY?+4 ,HE 0 NE>+ 8 ?IRTIE? BIR?"D1 &!
B& HE 0 PLAY+ ) SEEM$ 6BE SP5D+ M "T
TRAVEL+ ?AN E>N+ M"OY4
  8,I M1N1 :5 ME &! B& F/ />T$ \ X 0 GRT
2C WE 7 GO+ 6A NEW T[N E WEEK4 ,WE 7 GO+
6T[NS T ,I'D N"E BE5 9 & TRAVEL+4 ,X 0
N1T4 ,B AF Y'VE BE5 6ALL ^? T[NS TWO OR
?REE "TS1 !N X J GETS 6BE ": Y'RE PLAY+
9 ANO!R B>4
  8,S ! CLOS] ,I R1*$ 6?IRTY1 ! M ,I
2GAN 6FACE R1L;Y & GET 9 T\* A LL M )
MYF & MY PRAY]S4 ,I J DIDN'T WANT 6SP5D
! RE/ ( MY LIFE SIX NI<TS A WEEK PLAY+ 9
B>S & HONKY-TONKS40
  ,T RIGOR\S ROAD S*$ULE1 HE RECALLS1 0
AL KEEP+ HM A"P TOO L;G F 8 WIFE & KIDS4
,TOBY REMEMB]S MISS+ 8 FAMILY & WANT+
6SP5D M "T ) !M4
  ,"! 0 "S?+ ELSE BO!R+ HM Z WELL4 ,TOBY
_H BE5 RAIS$ 9 A RELIGI\S H\SEHOLD--!
OLDE/ ( ?REE *N--& PLAY+ GIGS 9 ,S\?
,OKLAHOMA BE] JO9TS MADE HM FEEL Z IF HE
0 2TRAY+ ^? _SUAL VALUES4
  8,MY P>5TS 7 H>D"W+ F>M P :O 7 ALW
GIV+ ! ,"L CR$IT = "EY?+ !Y _H4 ,I'VE
N"E HE>D !M Z M* Z EV5 D\BT ,GOD 9 ANY
WAY4 ,!Y ALW TAU<T ME T4 ,!Y TAU<T ME AB
,JESUS & T ,I %D N"E D\BT ,HM4
  8,T'S :Y :AT ,I 0 DO+ BO!R$ ME4 ,I'VE
ALW _H A TI<T "O-ON-"O 3NEC;N ) MY 2LIEF
9 ,GOD4 ,& ,I'VE ALW 2LIEV$ T Y H 6ANSW]
6YR ,MAK] :5 X'S ALL OV]4
  8,& ,I FELT L :AT ,I 0 DO+ 0 WR;G--
PLAY+ B>S ALL ! "T &! DR9K+ T GOES H& 9
H& ) 2+ 9 B>S4 ,& "! 0 NO M"OY 9 X4 ,I 0
A REGIONAL ACT4 ,I 0 /RU7L+ AL;G "! =
EI<T OR N9E YE>S40
  ,AL? ,TOBY RECALLS (T5 GIV+ S]I\S ?"\
6QUITT+1 X 0 NO EASY DECI.N = HM 6MAKE4
,P]=M+ MUSIC 0 "S?+ HE _H LOV$ DO+ "E
S9CE HE 0 A "Y/]4
  8,I'D BE5 S++ AB ! ,"L 9 *UR*ES F
,OKLAHOMA 6,>KANSAS S9CE ,I 0 OLD 5 6SIT
UP"R10 HE RECOLLECTS4 8,I REMEMB] ? LL
BITTY *UR* WAY UP 9 ! /ICKS ": MY GRT-
GR&"F 0 ! S++ L1D]1 ! MUSIC DIRECTOR1 OR
:AT"E4
  8,? 0 9 ! M.TA9S OV] 9 ,>KANSAS4 ,WE
LIV$ 9 ,=T ,SMI?1 ,>KANSAS1 :5 ,I 0 A
BABY & AB A HUNDR$ P WD -E D[N F !
M.TA9S ON ,SUN"DS 6ATT5D ? *UR*4
  8,I REMEMB] MY GRT-GR&"F WD /& UP "!--
!Y DIDN'T H MICROPH"OS OR ANY?+--& J
BELT \ ^! ,GOSPEL ,S;GS4 ,X 0 GRT4 ,& HE
& MY GR&"F 7 R1L 9/RU;TAL 9 GETT+ ME S++
& 2+ 96,GOSPEL MUSIC AT A R1L E>LY AGE4
  8,& Z L;G Z ,I 0 9 S*OOL & Z L;G Z ,I
C REMEMB] ,I 0 ALW "P (A *OIR OR "S?+4
,AT *UR* ,I WD GET UP & S+ ALL ! "T4 ,I
GUESS ,GOSPEL S;GS 7 ! F/ S;GS ,I "E
SANG4 ,I'VE ALW LOOK$ AT ,GOSPEL S;GS Z
MUSIC & 3SID]$ !M Z HIP Z POP MUSIC40
  ,"! 0 ANO!R1 M PRACTICAL R1SON :Y
,TOBY CDN'T L1VE 8 B&--HE WASN'T SKILL$
AT DO+ M* ELSE4 8,I DIDN'T H ANY S]I\S
TRADE 2C ,I CAME "R \ ( HI< S*OOL & W5T
96! OIL FIELD BUSI;S4
  8,MY DAD _H BE5 9 X ?IRTY-FIVE YE>S &
X 0 BOOM+ BI7] ?AN "E BACK !N4 ,B N[ !
OIL FIELD WASN'T = ME 2C X _H DI$4 ,I AB
W5T BANKRUPT OV] T4
  8,& S T 0 A BAD "T 9 MY LIFE4 ,"! 0
LOTS ( /RIFE "!4 ,LOTS ( TRIALS4 ,S ,I
GOT BACK 6! ONLY ?+ ,I KNEW & T 0 TAK+
MY B& & TRY+ 6G MAKE A LIV+40
  ,M5;N (! OIL FIELDS EVOKES PA9;L
MEMORIES = ,TOBY4 ,HE RECALLS HAV+ J
GRADUAT$ F HI< S*OOL AT ! "T1 EXCIT$ AB
! PROSPECT ( "W+ 9 ! ,ELK ,T[N1
,OKLAHOMA1 OIL FIELDS1 ": HE 0 HIR$ Z A
R\<NECK4 ,?+S W5T WELL =A :ILE1 B !N !
"TS GOT T\<4
  8,ELK ,T[N W5T F 2+ ,SMALL ,T[N
,U4,S4,A4 6BOOMT[N OV]NI<T4 ,!Y BR"\ 9
FIFTE5 HUNDR$ OIL RIGS & />T$ PUMP+4 ,=
SIX YE>S1 Y _H CORPORATE P -+ 9 F ,H\/ON
& ,SAUDI ,>ABIA4
  8,!Y BUILT A ,HILTON1 PUT A B> ON E
CORN]--"! 0 EV5 PRO/ITU;N4 ,"EYBODY _H
M"OY--EV5 P :O 7 LIV+ "U OV]PASSES 2C "!
WASN'T 5 H\S+ = "EYBODY4
  8,!N ! WELLS RAN DRY4 ,! RI* P GOT RI*
0SAV+ _! M"OY &! FOOLS :O GOT X & SP5T X
W5T BROKE4 ,EV5 ! ,HILTON CDN'T MA9TA9
XF1 S X 0 SOLD = T5 C5TS ON ! DOLL> &
X'S N[ A MOM-&-POP HOTEL40
  ,TOBY REMEMB]S 2+ H&$ 8 P9K SLIP4 ,X 0
A 4A/] =! TW5TY-SIX-YE>-OLD1 :O 0N[ 0
M>RI$4 ,S ,TOBY RETURN$ 6PLAY+ ,C.TRY/-
ROCK 9 LOCAL B>S & HONKY-TONKS4
  ,EV5 :5 8 B&1 ,EASY ,M"OY1 F9,Y 2GAN
6TAKE (F & BR1K \ (! -PETITIVE ,TEXAS-
,OKLAHOMA D.E CLUB CIRCUIT 6PLAY M
LUCRATIVE GIGS AT BI7] CLUBS1 ,TOBY
REMA9$ 4SATISFI$4
  ,S ! S+] & S;GWRIT] DEVIS$ A PLAN4 ,)!
M"OY T HE _H MANAG$ 6SAVE1 ,TOBY PUR*AS$
A ,SILV] ,EAGLE BUS & 2GAN MAK+ TRIPS
6,NA%VILLE4 ,9 ,MUSIC ,C;Y1 HE WD P.D !
PAVE;TS AL;G ,MUSIC ,R[1 H&+ \ 8 DEMO
TAPES 6ANYBODY :O PROMIS$ 6LI/5 6!M4
  8,I _H BE5 6,NA%VILLE A FEW "TS4 ,I'D
CUT "S DEMOS & DID "S SIDES ) "S (!
DI6]5T LABELS TRY+ 6GET !M 9T]E/$ 9 ME1
B ,I CDN'T GET ANYBODY 9T]E/$ 9 MY S;GS
OR 9 ME Z AN >TI/ OR ANY?+4
  8,& ,I 0 / ?9K+ T ,I DIDN'T "K :AT ,I
0 GO+ 6D1 2C NO?+ 0 HAPP5+ &! LA/ ?+ ,I
WANT$ 6D IS PLAY B>S ! RE/ ( MY LIFE4
  8,T'S :5 ,I />T$ ? PRAY]--X 0 PROBABLY
:5 ,I 0 ?IRTY-SIX--& ,I SD1 ,8,LET ME "K
,GOD 0! "T ,I'M ?IRTY IF ? IS :AT ,I'M
SUPPOS$ 6BE DO+4 ,GIVE ME "S K9D (
SIGN40'
  8,I WD ALW 2 TALK+ 6,GOD "? MY PRAY]S4
,I WD ALW SAY1 ,8,IF ,I TURN ?IRTY &
"!'S N A TUNNEL )A LI<T AT ! 5D ( X T ,I
"K ,I'M SUPPOS$ 6G D[N1 LET T 2 MY SIGN4
,& ,I'LL G D "S?+ ELSE40'0
  ,Z 8 ?IRTIE? BIR?"D RAPIDLY APPROA*$1
,TOBY RECOLLECTS FEEL+ 4C\RAG$ AB "E
SU3E$+ Z A RECORD+ >TI/4 8,I 0 -+ UP ON
MY ?IRTIE? BIR?"D & ,I 0 PUTT+ ,GOD 9 A
B9D4
  8,I'VE PRAY$ MY :OLE LIFE1 B ,I N"E
ASK$ = ANY?+ ? SPECIFIC4 ,I 0 SAY+1
,8,HEY1 %[ ME : WAY ,I D NE$ 6G 0A C]TA9
"T4 ,%D ,I N 2 DO+ ? MUSIC ?+80'
  ,:AT HAPP5$ %ORTLY AFW / AMAZES ,TOBY
& 3V9CES HM 6? V "D T MIRACLES C HAPP54
8,X 0 N[ LESS ?AN ?REE MON?S 2F MY
?IRTIE? BIR?"D &! VICE PRESID5T (
,M]CURY ,RECORDS CALL$ ME F ,NA%VILLE4
,A TAPE )A BUN* ( S;GS T ,I _H WRITT5 _H
L&$ ON 8 DESK4 ,HE WANT$ 6"K IF !Y 7 MY
S;GS4
  8,AT F/ ,I ?"\ HE 0 WANT+ 6PIT* !M
6"SBODY ELSE4 ,HE SD1 ,8,>E Y S++ ^!80'
,I SD1 ,8,Y1H40' ,HE SD1 ,8,IS ? YR B&
PLAY+ ON X80' ,& ,I SD1 ,8,Y1H1 X IS40'
,& HE SD1 ,8,CD ,I FLY 9 6SEE Y D A LIVE
%[80' ,I SD1 ,8,SURE40'
  8,HE FLEW 9 ,FRI"D NI<T & WE PLAY$ !
%[ = HM4 ,I _H A RECORD D1L ! V NEXT
MORN+4 ,I 3SID]$ X A MIRACLE4 ,X 0 TOO
BIG (A CO9CID;E N 6BE4
  8,I _H PRAY$ = ?REE YE>S = ,GOD 6%[ ME
! WAY ,I NE$$ 6G4 ,I _H EV5 PUT ,HM 9 A
B9D 0SAY+ ,I WANT$ AN ANSW] 0MY ?IRTIE?
BIR?"D4 ,& HE ANSW]$ ME J 2F T "T4
  8,I 0 9 A BAD SITU,N--ALR SICK & TIR$
) MY LIFE & F$ UP4 ,I 0 9 A DECL9+
SITU,N & ,I PROBABLY WD H KEPT DECL9+
UNTIL ,I CD D "S?+ ELSE4 ,B ,GOD _H ?
PLAN = ME4
  ,TOBY DOESN'T RECOLLECT "UGO+ A
RENEWAL ( FAI? Z A RESULT ( ? EXP]I;E4
,:AT HE DOES RECALL IS FEEL+ A /R;G S5SE
( GRATITUDE4
  8,I DIDN'T H A RENEWAL 2C ,I N"E LO/
MY FAI?10 HE DCLS4 8,I N"E D\BT$ "! 0 A
,GOD & ,I'VE N"E D\BT$ ,8 ^W4 ,& ,I'VE
N"E D\BT$ ,8 EXI/;E "E4 ,& ,I 2LIEVE ,I
0 REW>D$ = T40
  ,Z A P]=M] ) /R;G RELIGI\S 3VIC;NS1
,TOBY (F]S T HE IS TRY+ 6IM"P "S ( ^?
3VIC;NS 6HIS TWO DAU<T]S4 8,I TRY
6EXPLA9 6MY KIDS H[ IMPORTANT PRAY] IS &
6KEEP ,GOD 9 _! LIFE4
  8,I'M N ) !M Z M* Z ,I %D BE1 B :5
,I'M "! ,I'M MAK+ SURE T !Y >E "U/&+ :AT
PRAY] IS AB1 & :AT K9D ( REL,N%IP Y H 6H
) ,GOD4
  8,T'S PROBABLY ! MO/ IMPORTANT 6ME--M
?AN SU3ESS--X'S 6"K :AT MY REL,N%IP IS &
6MAKE SURE T MY *N H ! OPPORTUN;Y 6H !
SAME REL,N%IP ) ,GOD T ,I D4
  ,TOBY ASS]TS T HE PRACTICES :AT HE
PR1*ES 6HIS DAU<T]S4 8,I'M N NE> P]FECT
& ,I'M F> F 2+ P]FECT1 B = "S R1SON
,HE'S %9$ A WOND];L LI<T ON ME4 ,& ,I'M
V ?ANK;L40 ,AN IMPORTANT ELE;T ( 8 _SUAL
LIFE IS DAILY PRAY]4
  ,DESPITE S* /R;G FAI?1 ! ,C.TRY MUSIC
SUP]/> ADMITS T "! H BE5 O3A.NS :5 8
FAI? 0 *ALL5G$4 ,"O S* MO;T TOOK PLACE 9
! AFMA? (! ,OKLAHOMA ,C;Y BOMB+4
  8,I 0 DO+ A LIVE RADIO SPECIAL 9
,NA%VILLE AT ! "T1 & ,I DIDN'T SEEM 6H A
C>E 9 ! _W4 ,"EY?+ 9 MY LIFE 0 GO+ GRT4
,!N A RADIO /,N EMPLOYEE WALK$ 96! /UDIO
DUR+ A -M]CIAL BR1K )! BAD NEWS4
  8,HE LOOK$ AT ME & HE SD1 ,8,DON'T Y
LIVE 9 ,OKLAHOMA ,C;Y80' ,I SD1
,8,Y1H40' ,HE SD1 ',A BOMB J W5T (F "! &
X BLEW "S?+ UP40'0 ,TOBY REMEMB]S H[ 8
HE>T SANK4 ,8 FAMILY LIV$ 9 ,OKLAHOMA
,C;Y & HE 0 SU45LY F"R5$ = _! SAFETY4
  ,AL? 8 WIFE & *N 7 N 9JUR$ 9 T BLA/1
,TOBY 3C$ES T ! 4A/] RAIS$ "QS 9 8 M9D
AB :Y ,GOD WD P]MIT S* A T]RI# ?+
6HAPP54 ,B T LAPSE ( FAI?1 HE 9SI/S1 DID
N LA/ = L;G4
  8,I "K O!R >TI/S T DON'T 2LIEVE 9 ,GOD
& T'LL 2 ! F/ ?+ !Y'LL TELL Y4 ,!Y'LL
SAY ,8,IF ,GOD IS "! & ,HE'S SUPPOS$ 6BE
A LOV+ ,GOD1 !N :Y D ^! BAD ?+S HAPP580'
  8,ALL ,I C SAY = T IS ,HE'S GOT ,8
R1SONS = X HAPP5+ & ,I'M N ! "O 6D\BT4
,HE'S TOO P[];L = ME 6D\BT4 ,HE "KS :Y
X'S HAPP5+ & T'S ,8 D1L & ,HE HAS 3TROL
( X40
  ,Z ,TOBY'S POPUL>;Y Z A P]=M] 3T9UES
6SO>1 ! *>T-TOPP+ S+] & S;GWRIT] 4CLOSES
T HE WD L 6"UTAKE A PROJECT : MAY N E>N
HM A GOLD OR PLAT9UM RECORD1 B WD R1P
GRT P]SONAL REW>DS4
  8,I MI<T H1D UP A PROJECT ) ALL ! P :O
>E MY FRS 6S+ A ,GOSPEL ALBUM OR "S?+4
,I M1N1 ,I DON'T "K EXACTLY :AT4 ,I'LL J
"K :5 X -ES4 ,I ?9K ONCE ,GOD HAS GIV5 Y
TAL5T ,HE DOESN'T WANT Y 6WA/E X4
  8,HE'S GIV5 ME TAL5T1 A GD CLE> H1D1 &
A HE>T FILL$ ) 3VIC;N4 ,SU3ESS HASN'T
G"O 6MY H1D & ,I'M Z D[N-TO-E>? Z
ANYBODY4 ,IF "!'S "S?+ ,HE WANTS ME 6D T
W 2 A POSITIVE REFLEC;N ON ,*RI/IAN;Y1
!N ,I'LL D X '''0


