Introduction:
Released in 2010, “In A Couple Of Days” by the American country music icon Toby Keith is a poignant ballad that explores the raw emotions following a sudden break-up. The song finds its place on Keith’s studio album Bullets in the Gun, a collection known for its balance between his signature outlaw persona and introspective storytelling.
While Keith, alongside Bobby Pinson, penned the lyrics that paint a vivid picture of heartbreak, the production reigns were shared by a trio of heavyweights in the country music industry: Keith, Mills Logan, and Kenny Greenberg. Their collaborative effort resulted in a track that seamlessly blends the vulnerability of the lyrics with a classic country music soundscape.
The song’s opening lines immediately thrust the listener into the narrator’s world, one turned upside down by the unexpected departure of a lover. “In A Couple Of Days” doesn’t dwell on the specifics of the relationship’s demise, but rather focuses on the immediate shock and the dawning realization of the emotional turmoil that lies ahead. The narrator grapples with the absence, yearning for even a two-week warning to prepare for the heartbreak.
Keith’s signature baritone weaves a tale of quiet desperation. The lyrics hint at the potential for self-destructive behavior as the narrator contemplates drowning his sorrows in whiskey and isolating himself from the world. However, a flicker of defiance emerges as he contemplates facing the emotional storm head-on, perhaps seeking solace or confrontation with his ex-lover “when the swelling goes down.”
“In A Couple Of Days” didn’t top the charts or garner major awards, but its strength lies in its relatable portrayal of heartbreak. The song resonates with listeners who have experienced the sudden loss of a love, capturing the initial numbness followed by the looming dread of the emotional tempest yet to come. It’s a testament to Keith’s songwriting ability that he can craft a powerful ballad from such a common theme, making it a standout track within Bullets in the Gun.
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Lyrics:
Two weeks notice would’ve been real niceI could’ve put this broken heart on iceBarely full of whiskey, all laid up in bedGivin’ up on what lies aheadCould’ve quit my job and let my beard grow outAnother sad old story that you hear aboutBut I got nothin’ from youCame without a warning at allIt was hot and dry when you told me goodbyeNow isn’t that a hell of a dealRight out of the blue, you broke it in twoNow you wanna know how I feelWhy don’t you come around when the swellin’ goes downRight now I’m doin’ okayHit me backI should know something in a couple of daysIt ain’t sunk in yet but I know that old painIt will come like the storm once it starts to rainRight now the sky is just a couple of cloudsBut it’s gonna be hell once the bottom falls outI might head for shelter, I might run and hideI might take my chances standin’ outsideIt’s too early to tellHell, you just left me todayIt was hot and dry when you told me goodbyeNow isn’t that a hell of a dealRight out of the blue, you broke it in twoAnd now you wanna know how I feelWhy don’t you come around when the swellin’ goes downRight now I’m doin’ okayHit me backI should know something in a couple of daysWhy don’t you come around when the swellin’ goes downRight now I’m doin’ okayHit me backI should know something in a couple of daysGirl, hit me backI should know something in a couple of days