Country-pop may have ruled the charts, but Kevin Fowler established himself… Read Full Bio ↴Country-pop may have ruled the charts, but Kevin Fowler established himself impressively throughout Texas by making modest honky tonk-style country for regular folks. Raised in the West Texas town Amarillo, the guitarist began his musical career on both drums and piano. He left Texas at age 20 for the bright lights of Los Angeles, where he studied music at the Guitar Institute of Technology. He returned to Texas soon after and settled in Austin, where he joined the hard rock band Dangerous Toys. Following this eye-opening stint, Fowler started his own Southern hard rock band, Thunderfoot. He soon came to the realization, however, that he couldn't shake his West Texas roots and gave up hard rock for country, the style of music he grew up with.

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.

Chippin' Away
Kevin Fowler Lyrics

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Yeah, a lot people think
She's a little out of my league
Maybe I'm aiming too high, but that's okay
I'm chippin' away

Well, this morning, at the feed store
Walking in, I held the door
Saw the sweetest little smile sneak across her face

Oh, I'm chippin' away

Yeah, chippin' away, chippin' away
Gonna break through to her one of these days
That wall's high, but I know I'm
Chippin' away

Oh, chippin' away, chippin' away
I'm gonna do whatever it takes
Making her mine one swing at a time
Chippin' away

Oh, I'm chippin', chippin' away

It's kinda like a miner
Digging for a diamond
I know it's gonna take awhile, but it's worth the wait
I'm chippin' away

Yeah, chippin' away, chippin' away
Gonna break through to her one of these days
That wall's high, but I know I'm
Chippin' away

Oh, chippin' away, chippin' away
I'm gonna do whatever it takes
Making her mine one swing at a time
Chippin' away

Bought her a dozen red roses
Bet that'll do the trick
If that don't win her over
I'll be right back at it again
Yeah, right back it again

Yeah, chippin' away, chippin' away
Gonna break through to her one of these days
That wall's high, but I know I'm
Chippin' away

Oh, chippin' away, chippin' away
I'm gonna do whatever it takes
Making her mine one swing at a time
Chippin' away

That wall's high, but I know I'm
Chippin' away

Overall Meaning

"Chippin' Away" by Kevin Fowler is a song about a man who is pursuing a woman he believes is out of his league. Despite the belief of others, the man is unfazed and is determined to win the heart of the woman he desires. The lyrics of the song reflect the man's persistent efforts to win her over one step at a time. The chorus of the song emphasizes how the man is "chippin' away" at the wall between him and the woman he loves. The wall is a metaphor for the barrier between them, but the man is confident that he will eventually win her over.

The song has a hopeful tone, with a message that persistence and determination can overcome obstacles. The man in the song understands that he may not have everything initially, but is willing to work hard to get the woman he wants. The song also alludes to the fact that the man is not just trying to win the woman over with gifts but also by genuinely chipping away at the wall with every interaction.

Line by Line Meaning

Yeah, a lot people think
Many people believe

She's a little out of my league
That the woman is more attractive or successful than Kevin

Maybe I'm aiming too high, but that's okay
Kevin acknowledges that he may be setting his sights too high, but he's okay with that

I'm chippin' away
He is going to keep trying to pursue her, even if it takes a while

Well, this morning, at the feed store
Kevin is recalling a particular moment from his day

Walking in, I held the door
He held the door open for the woman he's interested in

Saw the sweetest little smile sneak across her face
She smiled at him in a way that made his heart flutter

Oh, I'm chippin' away
He is still working to win her over

Gonna break through to her one of these days
Kevin is confident that he will eventually win her over

That wall's high, but I know I'm
The obstacle (her disinterest) is difficult to overcome, but Kevin is determined to keep trying

I'm gonna do whatever it takes
Kevin is willing to try any approach to win her affection

Making her mine one swing at a time
Kevin is using a metaphor of chipping away or breaking down a wall to describe the process of winning over the woman he is interested in

It's kinda like a miner
He is comparing his pursuit of her to that of a miner looking for a valuable gem

Digging for a diamond
He is willing to put in the effort and patience required to win her over

I know it's gonna take awhile, but it's worth the wait
Although he knows it may take a long time, he believes that winning her over will be worth the effort

Bought her a dozen red roses
Kevin is trying to win her affection through gifts

Bet that'll do the trick
He hopes this gift will win her over

If that don't win her over
Kevin is prepared in case his current plan doesn't work

I'll be right back at it again
He will continue to try to win her over again if his first attempt fails

That wall's high, but I know I'm
Again, Kevin is acknowledging that the obstacle is tough to overcome

Chippin' away
He is still trying to win her over

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRICE LONG, DAVID LEE MURPHY, SHANE MINOR

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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