Last night, while browsing songs on my YouTube feed, I stumbled upon an old favorite: Ships That Don’t Come In. Originally recorded by Joe Diffie, the song had significant radio success back in the 1990s. But what caught my eye wasn’t just Diffie’s name, it was the addition of Luke Combs. That alone was enough to make me click on the video.

A little background…Joe Diffie passed away from COVID-19 about four years ago. Watching the video, I assumed the man singing was Diffie near the end of his life. I didn’t have my glasses on, so the rough appearance of the singer made sense. However, as I listened more closely, something felt off. I could swear I was hearing Toby Keith’s voice instead of Diffie’s, and I even found myself thinking how cool it would’ve been to hear Toby cover this song. Toby Keith passed away earlier this year.

When I looked back at the video title, I realized Toby Keith was, in fact, listed as one of the performers. Suddenly, it all clicked. My ears had been telling me the truth all along. But what really surprised me was seeing Keith himself as a far thinner and more fragile version than the figure I remembered. It was a startling contrast to his powerful voice, which was still as strong as when he sang Should’ve Been a Cowboy. I’m not sure how long before his death he recorded this song, but judging by his appearance, it couldn’t have been much longer.

Despite his physical decline, Keith’s rendition of Ships That Don’t Come In is stunning. His voice brings a new level of emotion to the song, especially in the chorus, which captures the song’s core message perfectly. The lyrics are a poignant reminder of life’s fleeting chances. As one of the characters in the song, a man drinking at a bar, raises his glass, he reflects: “At least we’ve had our chances; there’s those that never have.” Then the chorus begins:

So here’s to all the soldiers
Who have ever died in vain
The insane locked up in themselves
The homeless down on Main
To those who stand on empty shores
And spit against the wind
And those who wait forever
For ships that don’t come in

These lines resonate deeply. The song pays tribute to those who never had the opportunity to fully live their lives, whether due to war, mental illness, or circumstance. It also reminds the rest of us to be grateful for the chances we’ve had. There’s a powerful perspective here, one that can shift your entire state of mind, if you take a moment to let it sink in.

Ships That Don’t Come In stands as a classic example of why country music is great. It tells a story, offers meaning, and helps us better understand the world around us. “‘Cause God made life a gamble, and we’re still in the game…“