About The Song
“My List” is a song written by Tim James and Rand Bishop, and recorded by American country music artist Toby Keith. It was released on January 1, 2002 as the third and final single from Keith’s 2001 album Pull My Chain. The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and held that position for five weeks. It also peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“My List” is a song about a man who has a list of things to do each day. He does what needs to be done each day, putting off what he really would like to do — spend time with his family. Eventually, he changes his mind and decides to put his family first, stating “Start livin’, that’s the next thing on [his] list”.
The music video was filmed in Ridgetop, Tennessee after the September 11 attacks. Footage of the attack is shown at the beginning of the video, as a husband and his wife watch the news. The video ends by revealing that the husband in the video is a fireman, as he suits up to go fight a fire. Keith portrays a fireman riding to the fire station. It premiered on CMT on New Years Day, January 1, 2002.
“My List” debuted at number 59 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs for the week of December 22, 2001.
Video
Lyrics
Under an old brass paperweight
Is my list of things to do today
Go to the bank and the hardware store
Put a new lock on the cellar door
I cross ’em off as I get ’em done
But when the sun is settled
There’s still more than a few things left
I haven’t got to yet
Go for a walk, say a little prayer
Take a deep breath of mountain air
Put on my glove and play some catch
It’s time that I make time for that
Wade the shore and cast a line
Look up an old lost friend of mine
Sit on the porch and give my girl a kiss
Start livin’, that’s the next thing on my list
Wouldn’t change the course of fate
The cutting the grass just had to wait
‘Cause I’ve got more important things
Like pushin’ my kid on the backyard swing
I won’t break my back for a million bucks
I can’t take to my grave
So why put off for tomorrow
What I could get done today
Like go for a walk, say a little prayer
Take a deep breath of mountain air
Put on my glove and play some catch
It’s time that I make time for that
Wade the shore, cast a line
Look up an old lost friend of mine
Sit on the porch and give my girl a kiss
Start livin’, that’s the next thing on my list
Raise a little hell, laugh ’til it hurts
Put an extra five in the plate at church
Call up my folks just to chat
It’s time that I make time for that
Stay up late, and oversleep
Show her what she means to me
Catch up on all the things I’ve always missed
Just start livin’, that’s the next thing on my list
Under an old brass paperweight
Is my list of things to do today