How Do You Like Me Now?! Lyrics - Toby Keith

How Do You Like Me Now by Toby Keith, released in 1999, tells the tale of an existent who looks back on their trip and confronts someone who formerly dismissed and undervalued them. ​

{Verse No. 1}
I was always the crazy one
I broke into the stadium
And I wrote your number on the 50 yard line
You were always the perfect one
And the valedictorian so
Under your number I wrote "Call for a good time"
And I only wanted to catch 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?!

Explanation of Verse 1
The first verse sets the scene of the narrator's history, where they were seen as unconventional and rebellious(" the crazy bone "). They relate a bold act of vandalization, writing the person's phone number on a football field, emblematizing a desire for attention and connection. The discrepancy is drawn between the narrator's perceived excrescencies and the perfection of the person they ask , who seems out of reach due to their fashionability and multitudinous romantic interests.

{Chorus}
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?!

Explanation of Chorus
The chorus is a recalcitrant protestation, asking the person how they feel now that the narrator is chancing success and recognition. Despite former discharges, the narrator questions whether the person still views them as crazy or if they now command respect. The citation of" livin' in your radio" suggests a desire for the person to admit their presence and influence, indeed if it's through circular means.

{Verse No. 2}
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 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 crying down the hall
Alarm clock starts ringing
Who could that be singing?
It's me baby, with your wake-up call!
How do you like me now?!

Explanation of Verse 2
In this alternate verse, the narrative takes a turn as the narrator embarks on a trip to Tennessee, leaving behind their motherland. Along the way, whispers of misprision follow them, intimating that despite their departure, the murk of their history still loiter. Yet, the limelight shifts to another character, entangled in the web of a loveless marriage that has left their dreams in remains. As the narrator observes this plight, they seize the moment to affirm their own triumphs and joy. Their presence becomes a clarion call, a wake- up call, asserting their adaptability and pleasure in the face of adversity.

{Chorus}
How do you like me now?
Now that I'm on my way?
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?!

Explanation of Chorus
The chorus is a recalcitrant protestation, asking the person how they feel now that the narrator is chancing success and recognition. Despite former discharges, the narrator questions whether the person still views them as crazy or if they now command respect. The citation of" livin' in your radio" suggests a desire for the person to admit their presence and influence, indeed if it's through circular means.

[Guitar Solo]

Explanation of Guitar Solo
During a guitar solo, the guitarist frequently plays over the passion progression of the song, adding embellishments, runs, and lyrical lines that round the beginning music. Solos can range from short, terse expressions to extended virtuosic displays, depending on the style of the music and the preferences of the guitarist.

{Chorus}
How do you like me now?
Now that I'm on my way?
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?!

Explanation of Chorus
The chorus returns, buttressing the narrator's newfound confidence and posing formerly more the questions about how the person perceives them. This reiteration underscores the theme of confirmation and the craving to be conceded for one's achievements.

[Outro]
Tell me baby
I will preach on

Explanation of Outro
The outro maintains the combative tone, with the narrator continuing to challenge the person's opinions and comprehensions. The expression" Tell me baby, I'll sermonize on" suggests a determination to continue proving themselves and asserting their worth, anyhow of the history.
OVERALL
How Do You Like Me Now is a recalcitrant hymn that addresses themes of tone- regard, adaptability, and the desire for recognition.It serves as a memorial that success is the stylish vengeance, and that eventually, tone- belief is the most important force in prostrating adversity.