HARDY’s HIXTAPE, Vol. 3: DIFFTAPE has been released with an all-star cast ranging from Brooks & Dunn and Reba to Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen. The over two dozen features on the 17-track album are chalked full of country legends; however, one name in particular sticks out: Toby Keith.
Keith appears on the third track, “Ships That Don’t Come In,” along with Luke Combs in what has been revealed to be Keith’s final recording before tragically passing away on February 5 after a battle with stomach cancer.
Though the song had been recorded months before Keith’s passing, it seems as if there was no better song to end an iconic life and career on. A song reflecting on life, loss and age serves as a perfect final goodbye to the legendary singer/songwriter.
The “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” singer provides the first verse and chorus of Diffie’s 1992 single, “Ships That Don’t Come In,” which peaked inside the Top 5 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart before Combs and Diffie took over in the latter half.
There’s something incredibly poetic about listening to both Keith and Diffie on a track together posthumously. Between the recency of Keith’s passing and Difftape’s releasing on the fourth anniversary of Diffie’s passing, “Ships That Don’t Come In” is sure to put a tear in your eye.
Listen to it here: