About the Song
“Close But No Guitar” is a heartland country anthem released in 1993 by the iconic American singer-songwriter Toby Keith. It served as the debut single for his self-titled album, Toby Keith, introducing the world to his signature blend of rough-around-the-edges vocals and relatable storytelling. The song quickly climbed the charts, resonating deeply with audiences and establishing Keith as a rising star in the country music scene.
“Close But No Guitar” delves into the world of missed opportunities and yearning for a life less ordinary. The narrator, likely a young man with a restless spirit, reflects on a path not taken – a life where music, perhaps symbolized by the titular guitar, became the central force. He laments the choices that led him down a different road, singing lines like “I strum the screen door with my fingers / Wish I was strummin’ a six-string instead.”
The catchy chorus emphasizes this feeling of being close yet so far: “Close but no guitar, singin’ in the bar / Feels like I’m a million miles from where I oughta be / Close but no guitar, livin’ life too hard / Wish I could rewind and set my future free.” The imagery of strumming a screen door instead of a guitar paints a vivid picture of longing and a yearning for a more fulfilling path.
Throughout the song, Keith masterfully employs his signature storytelling style. He weaves relatable details – the screen door, the bar – that create a sense of nostalgia and a specific time and place. The lyrics resonate with anyone who has ever felt stuck in a situation that doesn’t quite fit, yearning for a life fueled by passion and purpose.
“Close But No Guitar” is more than just a catchy country tune; it’s a coming-of-age anthem that speaks to the universal desire for a life lived on one’s own terms. It’s a reminder that even when the path seems set, a yearning for a different melody can linger, urging us to re-evaluate and perhaps, one day, rewrite our own personal song.
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Lyrics: Close But No Guitar
I’d sing the harmonies and Dixie sang the melody
And we sing a little off key sometimes
But we had some fun, son of a gun
I wonder if I ever even cross her mindThen she ran away with Billy Bovine
He was a flat top guitar pickin’ friend o’ mine
And now I’m just sittin’ home just countin’ the stars
I got close but no guitarI got close but no guitar
She was a shooting star
Who ran off with a guitar pickin’ friend o’ mine
She’s really on her way
I hear her records every day
I got close but no guitarI still play piano bars, still drive that same ol’ car
I live in that little shack in Tupelo
Dixie is the queen of Billboard Magazine
Playin’ ‘cross the country doin’ one night showsA man walks up with a dollar in his hand
Says let me hear the song by Dixie and the guitar man
And as the dollar falls to the bottom of my jar
I get close but no guitarI got close but no guitar
She was a shooting star
Who ran off with a guitar pickin’ friend o’ mine
She’s really on her way
I hear her records every day
I got close but no guitarI got close but no guitar
She was a shooting star
Who ran off with a guitar pickin’ friend o’ mine
She’s really on her way
I hear her records every day
I got close but no guitar