About the song
Some songs aren’t just melodies and lyrics — they’re memories, they’re farewells, they’re the words we can’t quite find when grief settles in our chest. Toby Keith’s “Cryin’ For Me (Wayman’s Song)” is one of those rare, deeply personal tracks that doesn’t just speak — it feels. It weeps, it remembers, and it honors the kind of friendship that doesn’t come along very often.
Written in tribute to Keith’s close friend, Wayman Tisdale, a former NBA player and accomplished jazz musician who passed away in 2009, the song is a moving farewell that captures the beauty of a soul now gone. But this isn’t your typical mournful ballad — it’s more intimate than that. It’s like overhearing one man talk to another, as though death hasn’t taken away the connection, only changed the form.
What makes this song so emotional is how Toby doesn’t pretend to be strong — he lets the pain speak. The line, “I’m not cryin’ ’cause I feel so sorry for you, I’m cryin’ for me,” strips away the stoic mask we so often wear in the face of loss. It’s an admission of vulnerability, of the emptiness that remains when someone we love leaves.
Toby’s voice carries that gentle roughness, like someone holding back tears while trying to stay composed. There’s no theatrical grief here — only real sorrow, and even more, gratitude. Gratitude for the time they shared. For the music Wayman played. For the laughter, the memories, the brotherhood.
“Cryin’ For Me” is a song that meets you where your heart breaks. It gives you permission to cry, not just for the one who’s gone — but for yourself, for the part of you that feels a little more alone in the world. It reminds us that grief is just love, with nowhere to go. And through Toby’s voice, that love finds a home — in song.
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Lyrics
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
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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’
