BR549 (originally spelled BR5-49) was an American country music band founde… Read Full Bio ↴BR549 (originally spelled BR5-49) was an American country music band founded in 1993 that last played live in 2013 and has been on hiatus since then.

The band was formed in Nashville by co-leads Gary Bennett and Chuck Mead. Their music, referred to as alternative country or neotraditional, contains elements of western swing and rockabilly. They eschew modern Top 40 pop-country for a more raw, honky-tonk sound, with songs about 50s pin-up/dominatrix Bettie Page and The Ramones. They took their name from a telephone number regularly used in a Junior Samples sketch on the television show Hee Haw.

BR549 toured with Bob Dylan, the Mavericks, Junior Brown, the Black Crowes, and Brian Setzer. Whike on hiatus, multi-Instrumentalist Don Herron is touring with Bob Dylan, and lead vocalist Chuck Mead is performing with the honky-tonk country supergroup The Hillbilly All-Stars, along with Robert Reynolds and Paul Deakin of the Mavericks and solo recording artist/actor Mark Collie. Former co-lead vocalist, and co-founder, Gary Bennett released his solo debut, Human Condition, in February of 2006, and former bassist Geoff Firebaugh is a member of the Nashville based rockabilly outfit Hillbilly Casino. Despite shows in Europe in 2007 it's unclear if the band will return to its capacity as a full-time touring band.

The group disbanded, and Chuck, Shaw and Donnie returned to Lower Broadway to play weekly gigs with musical collective The Hillbilly All-Stars. The three were soon revitalized to again play music within an unpredictable scene, leading them to reform BR549 in 2004 with bassist Geoff Firebaugh and singer/guitarist Chris Scruggs for their Dualtone debut Tangled In The Pines. But following victorious tours of the U.S. and Europe (marred only by two separate thefts of their instruments and gear), BR549 was faced with their ultimate challenge when Donnie Herron was invited by Bob Dylan to become the new fiddle and steel guitar player in his band.

“It was a real test of our abilities as a family,” admits Mead. “Donnie went on the road with Dylan. Shaw moved to Arizona. I’d moved on to other projects. But for us, BR549 had always been something that needs to be respected and nothing we could ever take lightly.” Following months of heart-to-heart phone calls, plate-spinning scheduling and the addition of new bassist Mark Miller, the band finally convened in Athens to record in a way they never had before. “In the past, we’d always made a record coming off the road, with songs we’d been played for weeks and sometimes months on tour,” Chuck remembers “But this time, we were all coming in fresh, making the record then and there. It’s an album that’s truly in the moment.”

BR549 released six albums and two EPs, including three albums on Arista Nashville and two on Dualtone Records. The band's self-titled debut album produced three singles on the Billboard country charts in 1996. The band was nominated three times for the Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

I Ain't Never
BR5-49 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well, I ain't never, I ain't never
Seen nobody like you
Well, oh never, have I ever
Seen nobody like you

Well, you call me up and say you'll meet me at nine
I have to hurry, hurry but I'm there on time
I walk right up and knock on your door

The landlord says, "She ain't here no more"

Ain't never, oh darlin'
Seen nobody like you
Well, but I love you
Yes, I love you
I love you just the same

I ain't never, I ain't never
Seen nobody like you
Oh never, have I ever
Seen nobody like you

Well, you told me sweet things that you don't mean
You got me livin' in a walking dream
All the things that you don't do
My friends say, "Man, what's wrong with you?"

I ain't never, oh darlin'
Seen nobody like you
Oh, but I love you
Yes, I love you
Well, I love you just the same

Well, you told me sweet things that you don't mean
You got me livin' in a walking dream
All the things that you don't do
My friends say, "Man, what's wrong with you?"

I ain't never, oh darlin'
Seen nobody like you
Oh, but I love you

Well, I love you
Well, I love you just the same

Overall Meaning

The song "I Ain't Never" by BR5-49 is a classic country song that is focused on the emotions of love and romance. In the song, the singer expresses his amazement towards his lover, who he has never seen anyone quite like before. Despite her inability to be found by him, the singer still professes his love for her. The song's lyrics are reflective of the simple and pure emotions of love, free of any external influences or expectations.

The song's first verse describes the singer's eagerness to meet his lover at nine, but when he arrives at her place, he finds out that she isn't there anymore. This disappointment doesn't stop him from loving her, and he continues to express how he has never seen anyone quite like her. The second verse touches on the issue of empty promises, where his lover tells him sweet things she doesn't mean, leaving him to wonder what is wrong with him. Despite the frustration, the singer can't help but acknowledge his love for her, emphasizing that he loves her just the same.

Overall, "I Ain't Never" is a classic country love song that is simple yet heartfelt. The lyrics are relatable, emphasizing the joy and pain that comes with loving someone, making it a timeless classic in the country music genre.

Line by Line Meaning

Well, I ain't never, I ain't never
I have never in my life

Seen nobody like you
Met anyone quite like you

Well, oh never, have I ever
I have never before

Seen nobody like you
Met anyone quite like you

Well, you call me up and say you'll meet me at nine
You contacted me and arranged to meet at 9pm

I have to hurry, hurry but I'm there on time
I rushed to get there but arrived on schedule

I walk right up and knock on your door
I approached your door and knocked

The landlord says, "She ain't here no more"
The landlord informed me that you were no longer living there

Ain't never, oh darlin'
I have never, my love

Seen nobody like you
Met anyone quite like you

Well, but I love you
Despite that, I still love you