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.

If These Old Walls Could Talk
Kevin Fowler Lyrics

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If these old walls could talk, I'd be a sad man
She'd left me long ago if she knew the things I did back then
No, they ain't said a word, stood silent through it all
I'd be a lonely man if these old walls could talk

This old house of ours, it's made of stone, but it's built on sand
And these four walls, they are my best friends
Been keepin' all my past locked deep inside

No one will ever know all those things I did so long ago

I've been runnin', tryin' to hide from yesterday
But there's just no need, I know my secret's safe

If these old walls could talk, I'd be a sad man
She'd left me long ago if she knew the things I did back then
No, they ain't said a word, stood silent through it all
I'd be a lonely man if these old walls could talk

They stood every storm those long, cold winter nights
They kept us warm holdin' back the rain
Not even the winds of change could blow 'em down
Yeah, we're on solid ground

If these old walls could talk, I'd be a sad man
She'd left me long ago if she knew the things I did back then
No, they ain't said a word, stood silent through it all
I'd be a lonely man if these old walls could talk

They've stood the test of time, never let me down
I put it all behind me, they remind me I'm on shaky ground
Won't let me forget

If these old walls could talk, I'd be a sad man
She'd left me long ago if she knew the things I did back then
No, they ain't said a word, stood silent through it all
I'd be a lonely man if these old walls could talk

Yeah, I'd be a lonely man

If these old walls could talk, I'd be a sad man
She'd left me long ago if she knew all those things I did back then

Overall Meaning

Kevin Fowler's If These Old Walls Could Talk is a nostalgic and melancholic song that delves into the idea of secrets being kept within the confines of an old house. The song speaks to the very human experience of having things in one's past that they're not proud of but must live with. In the lyrics, the singer states that if the walls of his home could talk, he'd be a sad and lonely man. He recognizes that the secret he keeps would drive away the love of his life if she knew. The walls of his home become his closest confidants, the only place where he feels safe to keep his secrets.

The chorus of the song repeats the same four lines, emphasizing the theme of loneliness that comes with holding onto secrets. The lyrics suggest that secrets can weigh you down and make you feel alone. The singer feels that if his secrets were exposed, he'd be unable to maintain a happy and fulfilling life. Despite the weight of his secrets, the singer finds comfort in the fact that the walls of his home have kept his secrets and helped him maintain the facade of normalcy.

Overall, If These Old Walls Could Talk is a powerful exploration of the human experience of holding onto secrets. It highlights the idea that secrets can be both burdensome and necessary for survival. The song's melancholic melody and poignant lyrics create a deeply emotive experience for the listener.

Line by Line Meaning

If these old walls could talk, I'd be a sad man
If the walls could speak, they would tell everyone about the painful secrets I have kept hidden inside, making me feel depressed.

She'd left me long ago if she knew the things I did back then
If my partner knew the things I did in the past, she would have left me a long time ago.

No, they ain't said a word, stood silent through it all
The walls have been silent and have not revealed any of my secrets, they have remained loyal to me.

I'd be a lonely man if these old walls could talk
If the walls could talk, they would reveal all of my secrets, making me feel lonely.

This old house of ours, it's made of stone, but it's built on sand
Our home may look strong and reliable, but it is built on a weak foundation and may fall apart at any moment.

And these four walls, they are my best friends
The walls have been my constant companions and have helped me keep my secrets hidden away.

Been keepin' all my past locked deep inside
I have hidden all of my past misdeeds deep inside and have been keeping them concealed from everyone, including myself.

No one will ever know all those things I did so long ago
I have made sure that my past secrets will remain unknown to everyone forever.

I've been runnin', tryin' to hide from yesterday
I have been trying to forget my past mistakes by running away from them.

But there's just no need, I know my secret's safe
I no longer need to run away from my past because I know that my secrets are safe with these walls.

They stood every storm those long, cold winter nights
The walls have weathered every storm, even on the coldest winter nights.

They kept us warm holdin' back the rain
The walls have provided shelter and kept us warm by keeping the rain and other elements out of the house.

Not even the winds of change could blow 'em down
The walls have been strong and stable throughout the years, and nothing has been able to destroy them.

Yeah, we're on solid ground
We have a strong foundation and are firmly rooted in our place.

They've stood the test of time, never let me down
The walls have been a constant source of support and have never betrayed or let me down.

I put it all behind me, they remind me I'm on shaky ground
Although I have tried to forget my past mistakes, the walls remind me that I am on shaky ground and that my secrets could be revealed at any moment.

Won't let me forget
The walls continue to remind me of my past and the secrets I have hidden away.

Yeah, I'd be a lonely man
If my secrets were revealed, I would be alone and isolated from those around me.

If these old walls could talk, I'd be a sad man
If the walls revealed my secrets, it would make me feel sad and depressed.

She'd left me long ago if she knew all those things I did back then
If my partner knew about the things I did in the past, she would have left me a long time ago.

No, they ain't said a word, stood silent through it all
The walls have remained loyal to me and have not revealed my secrets to anyone.

I'd be a lonely man if these old walls could talk
If the walls could talk and reveal my secrets, I would feel isolated and alone.

Contributed by Declan K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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