"He Ain't Worth Missing" is a song written and recorded by American

country music Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...

singer

Toby Keith Toby Keith Covel (July 8, 1961 – February 5, 2024) was an American country music singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and businessman. Keith released his chart-topping debut single, "Should've Been a Cowboy", in 1993. During the 1990s ...

. It was released in June 1993 as the second single from his self-titled debut album. The song peaked at number 5 on the U.S. ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. This 50-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly by collecting airplay data along with digital sales and streaming. ...

chart and at number 11 on the Canadian ''RPM'' country tracks. It also peaked at number 7 on the ''Billboard'' Bubbling Under Hot 100, making it a minor crossover hit.

Content

The song is a mid-tempo in which the narrator sympathizes with a woman whose boyfriend has left her. He tells her that "he ain't worth missing" and tries to start a romance with her.

Music video

The music video for the song begins with a man playing the piano at a bar. Scenes also feature Keith singing the song in his bedroom, and himself at a bar with a woman, who is feeling bad for her, as the man gets up and leaves the bar.

Critical reception

Deborah Evans Price, of ''

'' magazine reviewed the song unfavorably saying "lyrical and musical cliches are surrounded by tired, soft-rock synth patches on Keith's flimsy sophomore effort." She also said that Keith is looking for hooks "in all the wrong places" and that the "overdubbed pedal steel guitar is the only trace of country in this midtempo lament."''

'', July 10, 1999

Chart performance

"He Ain't Worth Missing" debuted at number 71

Hot Country Singles & Tracks Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. This 50-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly by collecting airplay data along with digital sales and streaming. ...

chart dated July 3, 1993. It charted for 20 weeks on that chart, and peaked at number 5 on the country chart dated October 23, 1993.

Year-end charts

References

1993 singles 1993 songs Toby Keith songs Songs written by Toby Keith Song recordings produced by Harold Shedd Mercury Records singles {{1993-country-song-stub