Your Name in the Toolbox by Tony Gibbs
All rights reserved © ℗ 2025 Tony Gibbs

I keep your name in the toolbox drawer
Right next to the nails I don’t use anymore
It’s not romantic, it’s just the truth
You were part of fixing what I broke in my youth

Now every time something rattles loose
I reach for a memory I can’t refuse

’Cause you taught me how to hold my temper
How to finish what I start
How to speak when it would’ve been easier
To keep my mouth shut and my pride up
If you ever wonder what you changed
It ain’t just love—it’s the way I’m made
Yeah, I carry your name in the toolbox
Right by the things that keep me from falling apart

There’s a scratch on the truck from that fence post day
You laughed so hard you couldn’t catch your breath to say
“Maybe slow down,” but you said it kind
Like you wanted me safe, not simply right

I lost you, yeah, I know I did
But I kept what you built in me, bit by bit

’Cause you taught me how to hold my temper
How to finish what I start
How to speak when it would’ve been easier
To keep my mouth shut and my pride up
If you ever wonder what you changed
It ain’t just love—it’s the way I’m made
Yeah, I carry your name in the toolbox
Right by the things that keep me from falling apart

Some people leave and take the good with ’em
You left and somehow left it here
So if I love somebody better someday
It’ll be partly because you were here

You taught me how to hold my temper
How to finish what I start
How to speak when it would’ve been easier
To keep my mouth shut and my pride up
If you ever wonder what you changed
It ain’t just love—it’s the way I’m made
Yeah, I carry your name in the toolbox
Right by the things that keep me from falling apart

Your Name in the Toolbox (duet)

UK songwriter. Featured songs have been produced thanks to the talent of Donna Hazelton, Esther O'Connor, Tim O'Connor, Graeme Duffin, Sandy Jones, John Harley Weston, Kim Copeland, Erin Caldwell, Rachel Williams, Tim Buppert, Pete Dymond, Marcie Summers, Stuart Brayson, Buddy Hyatt, Jim Hyatt, Brian Fullen, Glen Duncan, Bob Britt, Wayne Killius, James Mitchell, Doug Grieves, and Ray Curtis. 

All music and lyrics © Tony Gibbs unless shown otherwise. 

2025 onwards: Lyrics, melodies and creative direction: Tony Gibbs.

Use of Artificial Intelligence:

All creative work is developed through a human-led process where AI acts as a digital tool, not a replacement. My role is to provide the emotional truth, lived experience and artistic direction through my lyrics.

Every idea, story and emotional direction originates from my lived experience and/or my own imagination. AI helped me shape structure, phrasing and flow — the final voice, choices and meaning are entirely mine. Backing tracks created using AI. 

All intellectual property for the final lyrics remains with the human author.