Now comes the compelling CD, Jeff Bates, the singer’s debut collection for the Black River Music Group. Jeff’s was the guiding hand in 10 of the album’s 13 songs. Bates teamed on the album with such stellar co-writers as Lonnie Wilson, Kim Williams, Ben Hayslip, Brandon Kinney, Jimmy Yeary, Robert Arthur, Kirk Roth, Jim McCormick, Jason Matthews and Kenny Beard. Paul Overstreet, Deborah Allen, Frank Rogers and Casey Beathard also contributed songs.
“It’s the most honest and accurate representation of me and my music yet,” Bates proclaims. “Nobody told me what to sing or write, what direction to go with it, or how it should be done. We all just went into the studio and did our best to bring life to words I’d written on paper. And the words written on paper? Well, those came from little pieces of the life I’ve lived.”
The stories of his adoption, meth addiction and jail time have been bared honestly for the media and country music fans, but there’s so much more to the man that Jeff Bates has become. The album captures snapshots of what’s most important to him: strong family ties, the love of a good woman, appreciation for the workin’ man, and his unfailing religious beliefs – all buffered with a quick smile and sense of humor. Overall, it’s a body of work filled with surprising insights and intimate confessions told in Bate’s own rich voice.
Jimmy Nichols, who co-produced the album with Kenny Beard and Mickey Jack Cones, agrees with that assessment. “Working with Jeff on this new album,” he says, “reminded me of why I came to Nashville—great songs, great singing and passion for the music. Jeff is the future of country music, but he never lets us forget its past.”
A native of Mississippi, Bates signed with RCA Records in 2002. That association yielded two albums—Rainbow Man in 2003 and Leave The Light On in 2006—plus seven charted singles: “The Love Song,” “Rainbow Man,” “I Wanna Make You Cry,” “Long, Slow Kisses,” “Good People,” “No Shame” and “One Second Chance.”
When he was released from his label deal in 2006, Bates balanced his time between a busy tour schedule and songwriting – exploring a slightly different direction that was “a little rougher around the edges, a little more progressive, a little more of ME and the music I really feel inside.” The music that came from that time of reflection and freedom captured the ear of Black River Music Group who immediately signed Bates as their flagship artist.
The first single from the new album is the driving up-tempo “Don’t Hate Me For Loving You.” Jeff Bates will be released April 8.
DEAD OR ALIVE
Jeff Bates Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I couldn't sleep a wink last night,
so I just had to drive
I know I'm gonna to see you
when I get to Louisville
Only problem is, I just don't know how you're gonna feel
That cold Kentucky rain is pourin' from my radio
I just gotta know
Could this be our resurrection,
Could it be a brand new start?
Or the nail in the coffin that holds our broken hearts?
Is it dead or alive?
Too for gone, or can it be revived?
Did I kill it, or does a little love survive?
Is it dead or alive?
Well I keep my eyes straight ahead,
Between these two white lines
While my mind is in the review mirror,
Lookin' back in time
I'm haunted by the memories of how I let us down
Can we patch it up,
Or should we put our love in the ground?
Is it dead or alive?
Too for gone, or can it be revived?
Did I kill it, or does a little love survive?
Is it dead or alive?
Theres one thing I never said,
I shoulda said to you
I hope its not too late to let you how much I do
I just pray you haven't laid your
love for me to rest
Another couple of miles of road,
And I wont have to guess, if its
Is it dead or alive?
Too for gone, or can it be revived?
Did I kill it, or does a little love survive?
Is it dead or alive?
The lyrics to Jeff Bates's song 'Dead or Alive' tell a story of a man driving to Louisville in the middle of the night to see his ex-partner. He couldn't sleep because he was thinking about their broken relationship and whether they could make it work again. The chorus repeatedly asks the question, "Is it dead or alive?" referring to their love. He is haunted by his past mistakes and regrets, wondering if he killed their love or if there is still a chance for it to be revived. The song is a poignant exploration of the complexity of relationships and the difficulty of moving on when there is still a glimmer of hope.
The lyrics of "Dead or Alive" are relatable to anyone who has been through a difficult breakup or experienced a loss of love. The melody is melancholy, fitting the subject matter, and the haunting guitar solo emphasizes the emotional turmoil of the singer. This song is a testament to the power of country music to tell stories that resonate deeply with listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
Its 4 a.m., I'm headed North straight up 65
The singer is driving north on the 65 freeway at 4 in the morning.
I couldn't sleep a wink last night, so I just had to drive
The singer is driving because he couldn't sleep at night.
I know I'm gonna to see you when I get to Louisville
The singer is going to meet someone in Louisville.
Only problem is, I just don't know how you're gonna feel
The singer is not sure how the other person will feel when he meets them.
That cold Kentucky rain is pourin' from my radio
The singer hears a song about rain in Kentucky on the radio.
While the voice inside my head is screamin' I just gotta know
The singer is anxious and wants to know the outcome of the meeting.
Could this be our resurrection, Could it be a brand new start?
The singer wonders if this meeting could be a fresh start for the relationship.
Or the nail in the coffin that holds our broken hearts?
The singer wonders if this meeting could be the final blow to their broken relationship.
Is it dead or alive? Too for gone, or can it be revived?
The singer questions if their relationship is over or if there's still hope for it.
Did I kill it, or does a little love survive?
The singer wonders if he is responsible for their relationship falling apart.
Well I keep my eyes straight ahead, Between these two white lines
The singer is focusing on driving while he reflects on his past relationship.
While my mind is in the review mirror, Lookin' back in time
The singer is thinking about his past experiences and mistakes.
I'm haunted by the memories of how I let us down
The singer regrets his past mistakes and is still affected by them.
Can we patch it up, Or should we put our love in the ground?
The singer wonders if they should try to fix their relationship or just move on.
Theres one thing I never said, I shoulda said to you
The singer regrets not saying something important to the other person.
I hope its not too late to let you how much I do
The singer hopes it's not too late to express his feelings to the other person.
I just pray you haven't laid your love for me to rest
The singer hopes the other person still has feelings for him.
Another couple of miles of road, And I wont have to guess, if its
The singer will soon find out if their relationship is dead or alive.
Is it dead or alive? Too for gone, or can it be revived?
The singer questions if their relationship is over or if there's still hope for it.
Did I kill it, or does a little love survive?
The singer wonders if he is responsible for their relationship falling apart.
Contributed by Ethan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.