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"As Good as I Once Was"
Single by Toby Keith
from the album Honkytonk University
Released	May 9, 2005
Recorded	2004–2005
Genre	Country
Length	3:49
Label	DreamWorks Nashville
Songwriter(s)	Toby Keith Scotty Emerick
Producer(s)	James Stroud Toby Keith
Toby Keith singles chronology
"Honkytonk U" (2005) "As Good as I Once Was" (2005) "Big Blue Note" (2005)

"As Good as I Once Was" is a song recorded by American country music singer Toby Keith. It was released in May 2005 as the second single from Keith's album Honkytonk University. Keith wrote the song with Scotty Emerick.

Content

The narrator, a man approaching or in middle age and apparently sitting in a bar, is put into situations that test his masculinity. Having outlived his glory days, he insists he now is no longer "as good as once was" in his younger days, but although he no longer has the stamina to do what he used to do all the time, he can still be "as good, once, as ever was." Examples given include a set of twins who want to draw him into a threesome and a fight against two rednecks and a "big fat biker man" to bail his buddy, Dave, out of a botched pool hustle.

Music video

The music video was directed by Michael Salomon and premiered on CMT on May 16, 2005. It follows the narrative of the song and features Annie Sorrell and Alicia Loren as the frisky twins. At the beginning of the video, Keith is sat at the bar where he meets Bobbie Jo who invites him "for a rodeo" with her twin sister Betty Lou. Then, Keith's best friend Dave gets into a fight with a "couple of redneck boys", the beer starts sloshing, causing the music to fail, Keith yells in slow motion before the chorus resumes. As he goes to help Dave, Keith gets punched in the face by a tall bouncer. In the next shot, Keith was in an ambulance with a broken nose, as well as an intravenous drip. At the end of the video, the ambulance drives off into the night.

Critical reception

"As Good as I once Was" has since become one of Keith's signature songs, as well as one of his most successful. Matt Bjorke writing for About.com stated "the song is a good one, so good that it rivals anything off of Toby's "How Do You Like Me Now?!" album. It's a fun track about getting older, and how we don't have as much "energy" as we once had." Sputnik Music called it "a testament to how much old age sucks" while Allmusic declared the song was "wonderfully self-depreciating".

Chart performance

"As Good as I Once Was" debuted at number 37 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of May 21, 2005. The single peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of July 23, 2005, staying for six weeks. This song and his 2003 single "Beer for My Horses" are both his longest-running number one hits, each having spent six weeks at number one. Following Keith's death on February 5, 2024, the single would re-enter the Hot Country Songs chart at number 19 on the chart week dated February 17, 2024, being one of five Toby Keith songs to re-enter the chart that week.

The song was named BMI's Song of the Year for 2006.

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

1. Bjroke, Matt. "Toby Keith – Honky Tonk University". About.com - Country Music. Archived from the original on 2007-12-12. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
2. "Toby Keith Honkytonk University". Sputnik Music. 2005-08-15. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
3. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Honkytonk University Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
4. Radio & Records: August 5, 2005, page 46 worldradiohistory.com
5. ^ "Toby Keith Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
6. "Toby Keith Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
7. "Country Songs chart for February 17, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
8. "Hot 100 Songs Music Chart". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2005. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
9. "Best of 2005: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2005. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
10. "American single certifications – Toby Keith – As Good As I Once Was". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 3, 2023.

• 2005 singles
• 2005 songs
• Toby Keith songs
• Songs about old age
• Songs written by Scotty Emerick
• Songs written by Toby Keith
• Song recordings produced by James Stroud
• DreamWorks Records singles
• Music videos directed by Michael Salomon