Toby Keith

Toby Keith After receiving the first Country Icon Award at the inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards on Thursday (September 28), Toby Keith shared an emotional performance of his 2018 ballad “Don’t Let the Old Man In.” The poignant performance marked a rare return to the stage for Keith, who revealed in 2022 that he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. For Keith, who released the song on his 2019 compilation Greatest Hits: The Show Dog Years, the lyrics became more resonant within his own life in recent years. In the song, the “old man” is a metaphor for death. The lyrics face mortality, the fight to live and survive, regardless of one’s situation. Adios My Friend....., Don't let the old man in I wanna leave this alone Can't leave it up to him He's knocking on my door And I knew all of my life That someday it would end Get up and go outside Don't let the old man in Many moons I have lived My body's weathered and worn Ask yourself how would you be If you didn't know the day you were born Try to love on your wife And stay close to your friends Toast each sundown with wine Don't let the old man in Many moons I have lived My body's weathered and worn Ask yourself how would you be If you didn't know the day you were born When he rides up on his horse And you feel that cold bitter wind Look out your window and smile Don't let the old man in Look out your window and smile Don't let the old man in