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.
I Ain't Drinkin' Anymore
Kevin Fowler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Comin' home about a quarter to two
Oh you said that you'd be leavin'
If you didn't start seein'
A change in me really soon
You said it's gettin' really old
And that you wanna be told
That I ain't a drinkin' no more
Better listen close
Before you go walkin' out the door
I ain't a drinkin' anymore
Oh now that's what you want me to say
I ain't a drinkin anymore
Guess you finally got your way
Nope I ain't a drinkin' not a one beer
That's what you wanna hear
But honey I must confess
I ain't a drinkin' anymore
But I ain't drinkin' any less
I got lit the other night
Yeah I got in a fight
The police had me down on the ground
They were puttin' on the cuffs
They really roughed me up
They said boy "we're takin' you down"
Before he read my rights
He said take my advice
"Don't let me catch you drinkin' no more"
I said officer please let me go
And I won't do it anymore
Come on let me go on home
I ain't a drinkin' anymore
Oh now that's what you want me to say
I ain't a drinkin anymore
Guess you finally got your way
Nope I ain't a drinkin' not a one beer
That's what you wanna hear
But honey I must confess
I ain't a drinkin' anymore
But I ain't drinkin' any less
In Kevin Fowler's "Ain't Drinkin' Anymore," the singer narrates his decision to stop drinking because of his partner's ultimatum. He starts by admitting that he has been going out every night, having fun, and coming home late. Nonetheless, his partner has informed him that unless he changes and stops drinking, they will leave him. In the chorus, he insists that he has stopped drinking, saying, "I ain't drinkin' anymore... Guess you finally got your way," although paradoxically concluding, "But I ain't drinkin' any less."
Later in the song, Fowler recounts an incident where he was arrested after getting into a fight while drunk. The police roughed him up while handcuffing him, and before reading his rights, the officer advised him not to drink anymore. The singer says that he pleaded with the officer to let him go, promising that he would not drink again.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been goin' out every night havin' a ball
I've been partying and having fun every night
Comin' home about a quarter to two
I usually come home around 2 am
Oh you said that you'd be leavin'
You told me that you'd leave if I didn't change
If you didn't start seein'
If you didn't notice
A change in me really soon
Me becoming a better person soon
You said it's gettin' really old
You're tired of my behavior
And that you wanna be told
You want me to be honest with you
That I ain't a drinkin' no more
That I stopped drinking
Well now honey here it goes,
Now I'm going to say it
Better listen close
Pay attention
Before you go walkin' out the door
Before you leave me
I ain't a drinkin' anymore
I stopped drinking like you wanted me to
Oh now that's what you want me to say
You've been pushing me to quit
Guess you finally got your way
You're pleased that I quit
Nope I ain't a drinkin' not a one beer
I haven't had a single drink
That's what you wanna hear
That's what you've been asking for
But honey I must confess
However, I have to be honest
I ain't a drinkin' anymore
I'm not drinking anymore
But I ain't drinkin' any less
But I haven't reduced my drinking in any significant way
I got lit the other night
I got drunk the other night
Yeah I got in a fight
I got into a physical altercation
The police had me down on the ground
The police pinned me down
They were puttin' on the cuffs
The police were arresting me
They really roughed me up
The police were violent with me
They said boy "we're takin' you down"
They told me they were arresting me
Before he read my rights
Before the police read me my Miranda Rights
He said take my advice
The police officer gave me a warning
"Don't let me catch you drinkin' no more"
"If I catch you drinking again, I'll arrest you"
I said officer please let me go
I pleaded with the police officer to let me leave
And I won't do it anymore
And I promised not to drink again
Come on let me go on home
I asked the police officer to let me go home
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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