Cryin' for Me (Wayman's Song)
Encyclopedia
"Cryin' for Me" is a song written and recorded by country music artist Toby Keith
, recorded on his 2009 album American Ride
. It was released as the second single from the album in October 2009, the 48th single of his career, and became his 46th Top 40 single on the Billboard
Hot Country Songs
charts during the week of November 7, 2009.
, mostly accompanied by acoustic guitar
and saxophone
. It was written as a tribute to basketball
player and jazz
musician Wayman Tisdale
, who died on May 15, 2009. In it, the narrator is crying, but states he is not crying for Tisdale's death, rather crying for himself.
Keith had intended to perform the song at Tisdale's funeral, but was too emotional to complete it at the time; instead, he performed Willie Nelson
's "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground
."
magazine said that "Dave Koz
's saxophone is a perfect accompaniment to the tender and touching 'Cryin' for Me (Wayman's Song)'," and Entertainment Weekly
writer Whitney Pastorek called it a "sweet tribute to a friend who passed away." Bobby Peacock of Roughstock called it "one of the best single releases of Toby's career" and compared its theme to Alan Jackson
's "Sissy's Song
," "but with a few more personal touches." Jonathan Keefe of Slant Magazine
gave a mixed review of the song, saying that it was an example of "his genuinely empathic performances" but criticized the production by saying that the "chintzy" production had a negative effect on the song's sincerity. Sam Gazdziak of the 9513 gave the song a thumbs-down rating, highlighting some of the specifics of Tisdale's life that were highlighted in the song, but saying, "Maybe if the song were more about those personal touches and less about Keith crying for himself, it wouldn’t seem as dreary."
, premiered on CMT
on November 2, 2009.
Hot Country Songs
on the week of October 17, 2009. During that week, Keith's "American Ride
" was at Number One, and two other cuts from the album debuted as well: "Every Dog Has His Day" at #56 and "If I Had One" at #59.
Toby Keith
Toby Keith Covel , best known as Toby Keith, is an American country music singer-songwriter, record producer and actor. Keith released his first four studio albums — 1993's Toby Keith, 1994's Boomtown, 1996's Blue Moon and 1997's Dream Walkin, plus a Greatest Hits package for various divisions of...
, recorded on his 2009 album American Ride
American Ride
American Ride is the title of American country music singer Toby Keith's thirteenth studio album. It was released on October 6, 2009, under Keith's personal label, Show Dog Nashville. Its lead-off single is the title track, which became his 19th #1 single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts...
. It was released as the second single from the album in October 2009, the 48th single of his career, and became his 46th Top 40 single on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
charts during the week of November 7, 2009.
Content
The song is a mid-tempo country balladBallad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
, mostly accompanied by acoustic guitar
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
and saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
. It was written as a tribute to basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician Wayman Tisdale
Wayman Tisdale
Wayman Lawrence Tisdale was an American professional basketball player in the NBA and a smooth jazz bass guitarist. A three-time All American at the University of Oklahoma, he was elected to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.-Early life:Tisdale was born in Fort Worth, Texas...
, who died on May 15, 2009. In it, the narrator is crying, but states he is not crying for Tisdale's death, rather crying for himself.
Keith had intended to perform the song at Tisdale's funeral, but was too emotional to complete it at the time; instead, he performed Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
's "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground
Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground
"Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground" is a 1981 single from the film Honeysuckle Rose. "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground" was written and performed by Willie Nelson...
."
Critical reception
The song has been generally met with positive reception. Ken Tucker of BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
magazine said that "Dave Koz
Dave Koz
Dave Koz is an American smooth jazz saxophonist.- Life and career :Dave Koz was born on March 27, 1963 in Encino, California....
's saxophone is a perfect accompaniment to the tender and touching 'Cryin' for Me (Wayman's Song)'," and Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
writer Whitney Pastorek called it a "sweet tribute to a friend who passed away." Bobby Peacock of Roughstock called it "one of the best single releases of Toby's career" and compared its theme to Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson
Alan Eugene Jackson is an American country music singer, known for blending traditional honky tonk and mainstream country sounds and penning many of his own hits. He has recorded 13 studio albums, 3 Greatest Hits albums, 2 Holiday albums, 1 Gospel album and several compilations, all on the Arista...
's "Sissy's Song
Sissy's Song
"Sissy's Song" is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music singer Alan Jackson. It is the fourth single release from his 2008 album Good Time, and his fifty-sixth single release overall...
," "but with a few more personal touches." Jonathan Keefe of Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
gave a mixed review of the song, saying that it was an example of "his genuinely empathic performances" but criticized the production by saying that the "chintzy" production had a negative effect on the song's sincerity. Sam Gazdziak of the 9513 gave the song a thumbs-down rating, highlighting some of the specifics of Tisdale's life that were highlighted in the song, but saying, "Maybe if the song were more about those personal touches and less about Keith crying for himself, it wouldn’t seem as dreary."
Music video
The music video, directed by Michael SalomonMichael Salomon
Michael Salomon is a music video/film director, who has directed many music videos, including many of Toby Keith's music videos...
, premiered on CMT
Country Music Television
Country Music Television, or CMT, is an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming includes music videos, taped concerts, movies, biographies of country music stars, game shows, and reality programs...
on November 2, 2009.
Chart performance
"Cryin' for Me (Wayman's Song)" debuted at #58 on the BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
on the week of October 17, 2009. During that week, Keith's "American Ride
American Ride (song)
"American Ride" is the title of a country music song written by Joe West and Dave Pahanish, and recorded by country music artist Toby Keith. It is the lead-off single and the title track for Keith's 13th studio album, released in October 2009. Released in July 2009 as the 47th single of his career,...
" was at Number One, and two other cuts from the album debuted as well: "Every Dog Has His Day" at #56 and "If I Had One" at #59.
| Chart (2009-2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs | 6 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 73 |