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.
Ball and Chain
Kevin Fowler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For firin' off my .44 at another man
Ain't been too good at bustin' rock or workin' chain gang
Never could see me draggin' that ol' ball and chain
(chorus)
Ball and chain, it's bringin' me down again
Gotta keep runnin' gotta do my own thing
Well, you always kept sayin' how you think that I should stay
And we could get started on our own family
Come along tomorrow I'll be on the mornin' train
Gonna boogie back to Texas couldn't drag your ball and chain
(chorus)
Ball and chain, it's bringin' me down again
Gotta keep runnin' gotta do my own thing
I could never drag a ball and chain
I used to wake up every mornin' and I'd do the rat race
Suit and tie, nine to five wouldn't my place
Didn't take too long for me to understand
I could never be a blue collar workin' class man
(chorus twice)
Ball and chain, it's bringin' me down again
Gotta keep runnin' gotta do my own thing
I could never drag a ball and chain
Ball and chain, it's bringin' me down again
Gotta keep runnin' gotta do my own thing
I could never drag a ball and chain
The lyrics of Kevin Fowler's song "Ball and Chain" are about a man who refuses to be held down by responsibility and commitment. The song is written in a first-person narrative and tells a story about a man who has just been released from prison. He explains how he ended up there, admitting that he had shot another man with his .44. He then goes on to say how he could never work in the forced-labor chain gang, preferring to do his own thing and not be held down by a "ball and chain."
The chorus repeats the phrase "ball and chain, it's bringing me down again, gotta keep running, gotta do my own thing, I could never drag a ball and chain." This reflects the character's desire for freedom and unwillingness to be tied down by any kind of obligations, whether they be work or family.
Overall, the song can be interpreted as a warning against being tied down by societal norms or expectations, and the importance of staying true to oneself and following one's own path in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, it started 'bout a month ago when I was in the can
The song's narrator began their journey towards individuality while incarcerated for shooting another man a month ago.
For firin' off my .44 at another man
The singer got in trouble for shooting someone with a .44.
Ain't been too good at bustin' rock or workin' chain gang
The singer knows they aren't suited for hard labor like breaking rocks or being on a chain gang.
Never could see me draggin' that ol' ball and chain
The artist doesn't see themselves being tied down and restrained by a ball and chain.
(chorus)
The idea of being tethered to someone or something is holding the artist back in life.
Well, you always kept sayin' how you think that I should stay
The singer's significant other wants them to stay and settle down.
And we could get started on our own family
They want to start a family together.
Come along tomorrow I'll be on the mornin' train
The artist is leaving town tomorrow on the morning train.
Gonna boogie back to Texas couldn't drag your ball and chain
The artist is going back to Texas and can't bear the thought of being tied down.
(chorus)
The idea of being tethered to someone or something is holding the artist back in life.
I used to wake up every mornin' and I'd do the rat race
The singer used to live the traditional life of working a nine to five job.
Suit and tie, nine to five wouldn't my place
They realized that the corporate world is not where they belong
Didn't take too long for me to understand
It didn't take them long to realize this.
I could never be a blue collar workin' class man
The singer doesn't see themselves as a blue-collar worker.
(chorus twice)
Being tied down is not an option for the singer.
Contributed by Mason H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.