Fowler put together a country band in 1998 and began playing Tuesday nights at Babe's on Sixth Street in Austin. Within two years, he'd begun recording albums and struck big with his self-released Beer, Bait and Ammo (2000). The album sold around 30,000 copies in the Texas area and garnered an impressive amount of airplay, particularly for the album's title track. The song became somewhat of a Texas anthem; Mark Chesnutt made the song part of his live show, and Sammy Kershaw recorded it. Fowler returned in 2002 with his third album, High on the Hog, and boasted some impressive guests, including Willie Nelson and David Lee Garza.
Ain
Kevin Fowler Lyrics
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Is just plain bad for your health
Drinkin beer all the time, cheap wine and whiskey
Is the same thing as killin yourself
Eatin everything fried, red dye number nine
And cookin in the microwave
They say phosphates and sulphates, flouride in the toothpaste
Will send you to an early grave
Chorus:
But we ain't dead yet, no we ain't dead yet
Old ticker's still a-tickin ya we're still alive and kickin
No we ain't dead yet
Pumpin smoke in our lungs to the effects of the sun
Eatin hamburgers cooked on the grill
Biscuits and gravy is a heart attack waitin
Might as well just make out your will
They got doctors and lawyers and studies and figures
They say we're all good as gone
Tell all the rule makers and all the rule breakers
Why don't you just leave us alone
Chorus:
But we ain't dead yet, no we ain't dead yet
The old ticker's still a-tickin ya we're still alive and kickin
No we ain't dead yet
As long as I'm able to cheat the old devil
Gonna keep on raisin hell
So tell me how to take em, talk about it later
Save that firebox for somebody else
Chorus:
Oh no we ain't dead yet, no we ain't dead yet
The old ticker's still a-tickin ya we're still alive and kickin
No we ain't dead yet
Oh we ain't dead yet, no we ain't dead yet
We're still stirrin up a ruckus, lightnin ain't a-struck us
No we ain't dead yet
Oh we ain't dead yet, no we ain't dead yet
From the nicotine, cafeine, tylenol and alcohol
We ain't dead yet
The lyrics of Kevin Fowler’s song “Ain’t Dead Yet” challenge the conventional wisdom that consuming harmful substances and engaging in risky behaviors will inevitably lead to a shortened lifespan. The song calls out the criticism of those who say staying out all night, drinking alcohol, eating fried and unhealthy foods, and exposing oneself to smoke is equivalent to signing one’s death certificate. The singer, however, defiantly asserts that despite these supposed dangers, he and his fellow revelers are still alive and “ain’t dead yet.”
The chorus of the song serves as a defiant cry from the singer and his peers who refuse to follow the advice of the “rule makers and rule breakers” who would seek to curtail their hedonistic ways. The lyrics suggest a rejection of societal norms and an embrace of a counterculture where self-gratification and rebellion reign. This rebellion takes the form of a rejection of the medical establishment's admonishments to live a healthy life, instead choosing to consume copious amounts of nicotine, caffeine, Tylenol, and alcohol.
Overall, the song celebrates a sense of independence and a commitment to living life on one's own terms, rather than allowing others to dictate one's choices. The message of “Ain’t Dead Yet” is a celebration of life lived to the fullest despite the risks.
Line by Line Meaning
They keep tellin us stayin out all night long
Is just plain bad for your health
People say that partying all night is unhealthy.
Drinkin beer all the time, cheap wine and whiskey
Is the same thing as killin yourself
Alcohol is dangerous and can harm the body just like other poisons.
Eatin everything fried, red dye number nine
And cookin in the microwave
Eating unhealthy foods and cooking improperly can lead to health issues.
They say phosphates and sulphates, flouride in the toothpaste
Will send you to an early grave
Chemicals in toothpaste and other products can have negative effects on health.
Chorus:
But we ain't dead yet, no we ain't dead yet
Old ticker's still a-tickin ya we're still alive and kickin
No we ain't dead yet
Despite what people say, we're still alive and enjoying life.
Pumpin smoke in our lungs to the effects of the sun
Eatin hamburgers cooked on the grill
Smoking and consuming grilled foods can have negative effects on health.
Biscuits and gravy is a heart attack waitin
Might as well just make out your will
Eating unhealthy foods can lead to heart problems and potentially death.
They got doctors and lawyers and studies and figures
They say we're all good as gone
Professionals warn us about unhealthy habits and the potential for negative health effects.
Tell all the rule makers and all the rule breakers
Why don't you just leave us alone
People who make the rules and those who break them should stop judging others and let them live their lives.
Chorus:
But we ain't dead yet, no we ain't dead yet
The old ticker's still a-tickin ya we're still alive and kickin
No we ain't dead yet
Despite what people say, we're still alive and enjoying life.
As long as I'm able to cheat the old devil
Gonna keep on raisin hell
As long as we're alive, we'll continue to enjoy life without worrying about what others say.
So tell me how to take em, talk about it later
Save that firebox for somebody else
We don't want to hear people's warnings, let's talk about something else and save the preaching for someone else.
Chorus:
Oh no we ain't dead yet, no we ain't dead yet
The old ticker's still a-tickin ya we're still alive and kickin
No we ain't dead yet
Despite what people say, we're still alive and enjoying life.
Oh we ain't dead yet, no we ain't dead yet
We're still stirrin up a ruckus, lightnin ain't a-struck us
No we ain't dead yet
We're still active and causing trouble, and we haven't been struck down by lightning, so we're not dead yet!
Oh we ain't dead yet, no we ain't dead yet
From the nicotine, cafeine, tylenol and alcohol
We ain't dead yet
Despite our unhealthy habits like smoking, caffeine, and alcohol, we're still alive and kicking.
Lyrics © DO WRITE MUSIC LLC
Written by: DAVID MURPHY, KIM TRIBBLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind