Toby Keith’s Lost Song “End of the Night” Finally Sees the Light

More than a year after country icon Toby Keith passed away, fans have been given one final gift — a song he wrote but never released. “End of the Night,” co‑written with David Lee Murphy and Bobby Pinson, was unearthed from Keith’s archives, and for longtime admirers, it feels like hearing his voice from heaven.

A Song from a Different Time

Back in 2014, Keith, Murphy, and Pinson gathered for what they thought was just another songwriting session. The result was “End of the Night,” a tender, hopeful piece that captured Keith’s deep sense of gratitude and grit.

“It ain’t the end of the road, still a whole lotta ride / It’s just the end of the night,” Toby sings — words that now feel almost prophetic.

For years, the demo sat unheard. But this October, Ernest released an Apple Music‑exclusive version of the song, and Keith’s own team shared a short clip of his original recording online, calling it “a lost demo found.”

The Writers Remember Toby

When word spread that the demo had been rediscovered, co‑writer Bobby Pinson described the moment like “finding a dollar in your pocket.”

“When they asked me about this project and said, ‘What do we have?’ it was like Christmas,” Pinson recalled. “This was always one of my favorites. I always felt like if we could just get this on tape, it would be more than even Toby realized it was.”

David Lee Murphy, the man behind “Dust on the Bottle,” remembered the day vividly: “We were laughing so hard,” he said. “Writing with Toby was always fun — you never knew where the song would go, but it always ended up sounding like him.”

A Final Echo from the Heart

Toby Keith’s voice in the demo is strong and sincere, carrying that familiar Oklahoma warmth. For fans still grieving his passing, it’s like hearing from an old friend one more time — a reminder of his enduring spirit and the optimism that marked his music.

Even after his death, Keith continues to remind the world that life — like country music — is about getting back up, dusting off, and moving forward.

Gone but Never Forgotten

Keith died on February 5, 2024, at the age of 62, after a long and public battle with stomach cancer. He had revealed his diagnosis in June 2022 but continued performing whenever his strength allowed, even earning the Icon Award at the 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards just months before his passing.

“End of the Night” now stands as one last testament to the man who gave us classics like “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” “Beer for My Horses,” and “American Soldier.”

It’s fitting that his final message to fans isn’t about endings — it’s about carrying on.

“It ain’t the end of the road… it’s just the end of the night.”