Introduction:
New Orleans, released in 1999, is a track by American country music singer-songwriter Toby Keith. It appears on his fifth studio album, How Do You Like Me Now?!, which marked his debut with DreamWorks Records after departing from Mercury Records. The album itself achieved commercial success, reaching number two on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 14 on the Billboard 200 chart. While not a single released from the album, New Orleans stands out for its thematic connection to the city it shares its name with.
How Do You Like Me Now?! was produced by both Toby Keith and James Stroud, a notable music industry figure who served as president of DreamWorks Records during Keith’s tenure with the label. Stroud had previously collaborated with renowned artists like Barbra Streisand and Wynonna Judd, and his work on How Do You Like Me Now?! reflects a focus on a broader country music sound, incorporating elements of rock and pop music alongside traditional country instrumentation.
New Orleans itself stands out on the album for its lyrical exploration. Unlike some of Keith’s more well-known, humor-infused country anthems, New Orleans offers a glimpse into a different side of the singer-songwriter. The song paints a vivid picture of the city, capturing its rich musical heritage, its vibrant atmosphere, and its carefree spirit. This portrayal is particularly interesting considering the song’s release year predates the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. While not prophetic, New Orleans offers a unique pre-Katrina time capsule of the city, serving as a testament to its enduring charm.
While New Orleans wasn’t a commercially released single and therefore didn’t achieve chart success, it has gained recognition among fans for its distinctive portrayal of the city. The song remains a popular choice for fans creating Toby Keith playlists, and it holds a special place for those who appreciate a side of Keith that leans more towards sentimental storytelling than rowdy bar anthems.
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Lyrics:
He was twenty-five, she was twenty-eightHe was home grown country, she’d just pulled off the interstateShe bought a Dr. Pepper, ten dollars worth of gasShe was obviously lost but too afraid to ask directionsSo he offered her a smile and a stick of Beech Nut gumHe said where you headed to girl, where are you coming fromShe saidNew Orleans but that’s another storyNew Orleans that’s another timeThat’s another town, that’s another lifeFirst she stayed a day then she stayed a weekCouple of months later they were living on his parent’s streetHe worked the station and she worked the storeAnd then they had a baby andThen they had one more little JesseWhen she dropped the kids off at the mother’s day outAll the ladies had their questionsBut they knew not to ask aboutNew Orleans but that’s another storyNew Orleans that’s another timeThat’s another town, that’s another lifeWednesday night supper at the First Baptist ChurchStranger standin’ in the doorwayAs they’re passin’ out the dessertHe said go on and pack your bagsCause I’m here to take you homeI’m goin’ back to LouisianaAnd woman I ain’t gonna go with out youThere’s a few defining moments in every person’s lifeWhen you know what you’ve done wrongAnd you know what you’ve done rightAnd before the congregation and her husband and her kidsShe says, “How dare you even speak to meAfter everything you did” inNew Orleans but that’s another storyNew Orleans that’s another timeThat’s another town, that’s another lifeThat’s another town, that’s another life