About The Song
Toby Keith’s “What She Left Behind” is a powerful ballad about the aftermath of a lost love. The song tells the story of a man who is struggling to come to terms with the end of his relationship. He is haunted by memories of his ex-partner and the things they used to share.
The song begins with the narrator describing the physical objects that his ex-partner left behind. These objects, such as a bottle of perfume and a necklace, serve as reminders of the relationship and the pain of its loss. The narrator then goes on to describe the emotional toll that the breakup has taken on him. He feels lost and alone, and he is unsure of how to move on.
The chorus of the song is a powerful refrain that sums up the narrator’s feelings of grief and loss. He sings, “What she left behind / Ain’t what she took / It’s the mess with my mind / That she left behind.” These lyrics express the idea that the most difficult part of a breakup is not the physical separation, but the emotional pain that lingers long after the relationship has ended.
“What She Left Behind” is a moving and relatable song that anyone who has ever experienced a heartbreak can appreciate. Toby Keith’s powerful vocals and the song’s poignant lyrics combine to create a truly unforgettable listening experience.
Some additional details about the song:
- The song was released in 2015 as the second single from Keith’s album, 35 MPH Town.
- The song was written by Keith and Scotty Emerick.
- The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
- The song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance in 2016.
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Lyric
Bottle of perfume left on the tableBy her side of the bedI spray a little in the airAnd outta nowhere, she’s thereHair on fire in the middle of the nightJust like that, she’s lovin’ meJust like yesterday and into the thin airShe disappears againTook her sandals, took her sundressTook her ten dollar sand dollar necklaceShe left a barefoot beach and a sunsetAnd all the love we made that nightTook some blame and some time for herselfPretty much left everything elseIt ain’t what she took that messes with my mindIt’s what she left behindClothes she wore the night beforeStill layin’ on the bathroom floorWhen I found her ring on the sink I died right thereWhere she said goodbyeHave a bottle of wine, where she found the nerveA goodbye I never heardOn a teardropped letter I didn’t readBut the worst thing she left was meTook her sandals, took her sundressTook her ten dollar sand dollar necklaceShe left a barefoot beach and a sunsetAnd all the love we made that nightTook some blame and some time for herselfPretty much left everything elseIt ain’t what she took that messes with my mindIt’s what she left behindTook her sandals, took her sundressTook her ten dollar sand dollar necklaceShe left a barefoot beach and a sunsetAnd all the love we made that nightTook some blame and some time for herselfPretty much left everything elseSo it ain’t what she took that messes with my mindNo, it ain’t what she took that messes with my mindIt’s what she left behindIt’s what she left behindWhat she left behind