About The Song
“How Do You Like Me Now?!” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Toby Keith. It was released in November 1999 as the second single and title track from his album of the same name.
In this song, Toby Keith recalls his unrequited attraction with a female valedictorian back in his high school years who never paid any attention to him. He wonders if she remembers him now that he’s famous.
Keith co-wrote this with Chuck Cannon. He explained in publicity materials: “Chuck and I have had so much success together. We started writing this song right after we finished another one. We got through the first verse, and I was just blown away by it. Chuck thought it was kinda okay, but when you’ve just got a little piece of a song, it sometimes doesn’t stick out when you’ve got a finished product layin’ there. I kept telling him this was gonna be a big song if we could just nail it. It took us about six months to get back to it after that. But we finally did get back together – and nailed it.”
This spent five weeks at #1 on the Country chart and, according to Billboard, it was the biggest selling country song of 2000.
This was the lead song on the album, but when Keith gave it to his record company (Mercury) they informed him that most of the tracks on the CD, for lack of a better word, “sucked.” He asked if he could have the songs back and they told him he could buy them back, which he did. He then walked across the street (to DreamWorks) and sold the album for twice as much. He fondly recalled being able to sing “How Do You Like Me Now?!” at the CMA Awards, all the while thinking of his former company.
Keith said in 2000 regarding the inspiration for the tune: “A lot of people become successful after they’ve been told they won’t ever be. So people can relate to this. It can be about an old flame or a boss or a teacher – whatever it means to each individual. It was a fun song to write.”
Video
Lyrics
Yeah, I was always the crazy one broke into the stadium
And I wrote your number on the 50-yard line
You were always the perfect one and a valedictorian
So under your number I wrote “Call for a good time”
I only wanted to get your attention
But you overlooked me somehow
Besides, you had too many boyfriends to mention
And I played my guitar too loud
How do you like me now?
How do you like me now?
Now that I’m on my way
Do you still think I’m crazy standing here today?
I couldn’t make you love me but I always dreamed about livin’ in your radio
How do you like me now?
When I took off to Tennessee
I heard that you made fun of me
Never imagined I’d make it this far
Then you married into the money girl
Ain’t it a cruel and funny world?
He took your dreams, and he tore them apart
He never comes home, and you’re always alone
And your kids hear you cry down the hall
Alarm clock starts ringin’ who could that be singin’
It’s me baby, with your wake-up call
How do you like me now?
How do you like me now?
Now that I’m on my way
Do you still think I’m crazy standing here today?
I couldn’t make you love me but I always dreamed about living in your radio
How do like me now? Yeah
How do you like me now?
Now that I’m on my way
Do you still think I’m crazy standing here today?
I couldn’t make you love me but I always dreamed about living in your radio
How do you like me now?
Tell me, baby
I will preach on
