Dillon Carmichael was born in Burgin, a small town in Kentucky, and grew up with a family that was passionate about music. Both of his grandfathers, Harold Carmichael and Harold Montgomery, were professional musicians (the former was a gospel singer and the latter a country picker who appeared on the Grand Ole Opry). Both of Dillon's parents had been singers who often performed in public. And he also had two uncles who rose to fame in country music; John Michael Montgomery enjoyed a handful of hits in the '90s, while Eddie Montgomery was a co-founder of the rowdy, Southern rock-inspired act Montgomery Gentry. Dillon got his first guitar from his father when he was 11 years old, and he taught himself to play. Once he became comfortable with the instrument, teenaged Dillon put together a band with his friends, and they played talent shows and informal gigs around town. The band broke up, and Carmichael struck out on his own, writing songs and playing solo shows at bars throughout Kentucky.
When he was 18, Carmichael's talent came to the attention of a representative of a Nashville publishing house, who offered to strike a deal with Dillon once he graduated from high school. Four days after he got his diploma, Carmichael packed his bags and moved to Nashville, where he signed that publishing contract and began making his way into the Music City music community. As Carmichael honed his talent, his style began to reflect his early influences, which included the home truths of Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings and the outlaw rock of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Eventually, Carmichael found a sympathetic collaborator in producer Dave Cobb, who had developed a reputation for his work with Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, and Chris Stapleton. Working together in the studio, Cobb helped Carmichael cut his debut single, an homage to classic country titled "Old Songs Like That," which was released in October 2017. A second single, "Made to Be a Country Boy," followed in February 2018. The two singles received positive notices in the country music press, as did Carmichael's first full-length album, Hell on an Angel, which was released by Riser House Records in October 2018.
99 Problems
Dillon Carmichael Lyrics
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Baby got gone and the bank won't stop
Callin' bout money but there just ain't none
I got 99 problems, but a fish ain't one
Weed's too high and the corn's too low
Ain't a damn thing scared of my old scarecrow
Workin' ain't over when the day is done
(CHORUS)
Yeah, I'm wearin' em out, reelin' em in
Floatin' on a six-pack second wind
Sittin' here settin' hooks in the settin' sun
And I'm fighting the fight, seein' the light
In this race called life we run
Man, I got 99 problems, but a fish ain't one
I got a wore out front and a sunburned back
Running low on bait
But look a'there, what's that?
A boat load of girls and here they come
I got 99 problems, but a fish ain't one
(CHORUS)
Yeah, I'm wearin' em out, reelin' em in
Floatin' on a six-pack second wind
Sittin' here settin' hooks in the settin' sun
And I'm fighting the fight, seein' the light
In this race called life we run
Man, I got 99 problems, but a fish ain't one
Looks like them girls got a little bit of room
On that party pontoon for me
Man, you talk about other fish in the sea
(CHORUS)
Yeah, I'm wearin' em out, reelin' em in
Floatin' on a six-pack second wind
Sittin' here settin' hooks in the settin' sun
And I'm fighting the fight, seein' the light
In this race called life we run
Man, I got 99 problems, but a fish ain't one
I got 99 problems, but man, I think I just solved em
A fish ain't one
Dillon Carmichael's song "99 Problems" is a country song that talks about the struggles of life and how they can be overcome with simple pleasures, such as fishing. The first verse discusses the singer's truck being in the shop and his girlfriend leaving him, leaving him with money problems, but he is still able to enjoy life because he isn't worried about his ability to catch fish. The second verse talks about the struggles of farming and working long hours, but again the singer finds solace in fishing.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the singer's love of fishing and how it helps him get through tough times. He talks about "wearing 'em out, reelin' 'em in," and how fishing is a way to escape from the worries of life. The bridge talks about how the singer is low on bait, but then he sees a boat full of girls and decides to join them. In the end, he says that he has "99 problems, but man, I think I just solved 'em, a fish ain't one."
Overall, the song is about finding joy in simple activities like fishing, and how they can provide a sense of relief from the struggles of everyday life.
Line by Line Meaning
Tie rod busted truck in a shop
My truck's tie rod is broken and it's in the shop.
Baby got gone and the bank won't stop Callin' bout money but there just ain't none
My significant other left and I'm broke, but the bank keeps calling me for money I don't have.
I got 99 problems, but a fish ain't one
I have many problems, but fishing is not one of them.
Weed's too high and the corn's too low
Weed prices are too high and corn prices are too low.
Ain't a damn thing scared of my old scarecrow
Nothing is afraid of my old scarecrow.
Workin' ain't over when the day is done
My work is not done when the day ends.
Man, I got 99 problems, but a fish ain't one
I have many problems, but fishing is not one of them.
Yeah, I'm wearin' em out, reelin' em in Floatin' on a six-pack second wind Sittin' here settin' hooks in the settin' sun And I'm fighting the fight, seein' the light In this race called life we run
I am catching a lot of fish, enjoying the moment with some beer, sitting in the sunset, and trying to live my life to the fullest.
I got a wore out front and a sunburned back Running low on bait But look a'there, what's that? A boat load of girls and here they come
I am tired and sunburnt, running out of bait, but suddenly a boat full of girls appears.
Looks like them girls got a little bit of room On that party pontoon for me Man, you talk about other fish in the sea
The boat full of girls seems to have space for me to join, and there are plenty of other options out there for me.
Man, I got 99 problems, but a fish ain't one I got 99 problems, but man, I think I just solved em A fish ain't one
I have many problems, but fishing seems to have solved them all and is not one of them anymore.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Casey Beathard, Dan Isbell, Rhett Akins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind