"I did what I wanted to do," he exclaims. "This was straight up me. Nobody told me to do this record. We pulled in every genre we were feeling at the time. We spent the last ten years trying to make this sound -- Hell Paso is it."
Never compromising, Koe might just be the last real rebel out there. The gold-selling singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer shakes up the status quo, shatters expectations, and sticks to his guns with a sound steeped in country storytelling, yet spiked with grunge grit. He's unapologetic, undeniable, and unlike anyone else you've ever heard. Without anything to prove and nothing to lose, he continues to kick ass on his own terms. Breaking through with a series of independent releases and tallying over 1.3 BILLION streams to date, he has impressively notched three RIAA Gold-certified singles, including "February 28, 2016," "Something To Talk About," and "Drunk Driving." The latter adorned his 2020 Columbia Records debut, Sellout, which arrived to widespread critical acclaim from American Songwriter, Billboard, The Boot, Rolling Stone, and more. At the same time, he has quietly emerged as a powerhouse performer. He graced Pollstar's "Top Worldwide Tours" back-to-back in 2020 and 2021, moving hundreds of thousands of tickets in the process. In addition to headlining his own Koe Wetzel's Incredible Music Festival, he has packed arenas, amphitheaters, and ballparks across North America, attracting a devout audience.
At the top of 2022, Koe and longtime collaborator Taylor Kimball retreated to Sonic Ranch Recording Studio -- a stone's throw away from the Mexican border just outside of El Paso, Texas. Holed up on a pecan farm for a month, they had nothing to do "except eat wonderful Mexican food and fucking play music."
"It was straight-up bliss, man," he says. "I couldn't go to the bar because there isn't one. I just had to make music!"
Fittingly, he set the stage for Hell Paso with "April Showers." Powered by a galloping riff awash in distortion, it culminates on one of his most chantable choruses. "It gives you a taste of the entire record," he adds. "It was a good song for everyone to jump into."
On its heels, the single "Creeps" crawls on grimy guitar towards a sing-song refrain tailormade for stadium-sized crowds -- or karaoke at your favorite old watering hole.
"It was a feel-good song for me," he says. "I'm big into the zombie apocalypse like The Walking Dead, so I wanted an apocalyptic zombie video for this bitch."
Punctuated by nocturnal Spanish guitar and spaghetti western-style whistling, "Cabo" recounts a weekend of endless debauchery in Mexico with no shortage of gory details. "It's a million percent true," he grins. "I've pissed off a lot of girlfriends and wives, but other than that it's wonderful."
Hank Ealy from Turnpike Troubadours lays down tear-drenched pedal steel on "So Low" where Koe confesses, "I'm so low it's fucking awesome. Makes me glad there ain't a cure for insane."
"It was like nothing we've ever done before, so I was like, 'Hell with it, put it on here'," he says.
"Yellabush Road" brings him back home with vulnerable verses and another vital hook, "And I'm way too blessed to bitch today."
"'Yellabush Road' is my community," he goes on. "It used to be a lot bigger. They had a school, a church, and everything out there. Now, there's not even a road sign for it. This is my hometown song though. You get on the road, you get away from everything you know, and you start to miss it. So, the tune puts me back there."
Then there's "Better Without You." Guitar wails in between a punch beat as he promises, "I'm doing better without you being around."
"I bought a house a year ago, and I've probably slept in my bed for maybe like two months out of the last year," he notes. "I had to unpack everything in my garage. One of those boxes had all of my ex-girlfriend's shit in it. It was raining outside. I was in one of those moods where I was like, 'Fuck this, I'm going to sit on the couch and grab a guitar.' You're over it, but you're not really over it."
The ride reaches its emotional highpoint on "Sad Song." He concludes the record with a fiery final word.
"I just got in the booth and sang," he recalls. "It was all in the moment."
In the end, there's nobody like Koe, and we should be really fucking grateful.
"Put out something authentic, it worked. This record is going to get a lot of flack, but it's going to get a lot of love too. I'm not going to stop. Hopefully, I go home at some point, kiss Grandma, and she'll maybe cook me breakfast."
I'll Be Fine
Koe Wetzel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And those careless deep dark eyes can tell it all
She throws a bag and bible in the back seat
While she listens to 14 miles from home
She dreams of livin life out on a mountain
And honestly that don't bother me at all
Cause I beat we can find one in deep East Texas
I′ll be fine
Oh baby I'll be fine
She knows I'll be there when stuff gets nasty
And she swears that down town Fort Worth holds it all
And she′s all i ever want
And she′ll be there when I call
Gettin all dressed up
One night on the town
I'll be fine
Oh baby I′ll be fine
And she's all i ever want
And she′ll be there when I call
Gettin all dressed up
One night on the town
And she's all i ever want
And she′ll be there when I call
Gettin all dressed up
One night on the town
I'll be fine
Oh baby I'll be fine
Koe Wetzel's song "I'll Be Fine" tells the story of a woman who has been through a lot of challenges in life but still perseveres. Even though she has been through a lot of tough times, she remains strong and determined. Wetzel describes her deep, dark eyes that tell the story of her struggles, and how she throws a bag and a Bible in the back seat as she drives away.
The woman in the song dreams of living a simple, peaceful life out in the mountains, and Wetzel is okay with that, as long as they can find a place in deep East Texas with big pine trees as their view. He reassures her constantly that he will be there for her whenever she needs him, even when things get tough. She believes that downtown Fort Worth has everything she needs, but Wetzel knows that she's all he wants, and that she will be there for him when he calls, whether they're dressed up for a night on the town or enjoying their simple life in the mountains.
Overall, "I'll Be Fine" is a heartfelt tribute to a woman who has faced many difficulties but still remains strong and resolute. Wetzel's lyrics capture the enduring strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity, and his words convey a deep, abiding love and respect for the woman he sings about.
Line by Line Meaning
She stands up strong despite all the hell she’s been through
She is resilient and perseveres despite having experienced great hardship in her life
And those careless deep dark eyes can tell it all
Her eyes reveal the struggles and pain she has endured, even if she does not speak of them
She throws a bag and bible in the back seat
She is packing her things and preparing to leave, bringing with her something that brings her comfort and guidance - her Bible
While she listens to 14 miles from home
As she drives away, she listens to a song that reminds her of a time when things were different and she was closer to home
She dreams of livin life out on a mountain
She envisions a life of simplicity and solitude, away from the chaos and struggles of the world
And honestly that don't bother me at all
Her dreams and desires do not conflict with the singer's own goals or values
Cause I beat we can find one in deep East Texas
The singer is confident that they can make her dream a reality by finding a suitable location in deep East Texas
With a big pine trees are the only view we got
The artist imagines a place where the only scenery is the vast expanse of pine trees that surround them, providing a sense of peace and tranquility
She knows I'll be there when stuff gets nasty
The woman trusts that the artist will be there for her when times are tough and she needs support
And she swears that down town Fort Worth holds it all
She believes that the answers to life's problems can be found in the bustling city of Fort Worth
And she’s all i ever want
The woman is the singer's greatest desire and source of happiness
And she’ll be there when I call
The artist knows that the woman will always be there for him, no matter the circumstances
Gettin all dressed up, one night on the town
The couple enjoys going out to have fun and enjoy each other's company, even if it is just for one night
I’ll be fine
The singer reassures himself that he will be okay, no matter what challenges come his way
Oh baby I'll be fine
The singer reassures the woman he loves that he will be okay, and that he will always be there for her
Writer(s): Koe Wetzel
Contributed by Audrey O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Brandi
on Ragweed
Both the singer and the girl he loves miss Ragweed, a broken up a Red Dirt Country Band. They share this feeling.
The girl's mother has a low opinion of the singer as a person.
Not only the mother, but also the girl's second step-father does not like the singer either.
The girl has a quirky personality and is always silly and playful.
Despite her quirks and her mother's disapproval, the girl and the singer bond over their shared love for Ragweed.
The singer expresses a deep affection towards the girl and wants her to know how much she means to him.
The singer is attracted to the girl's eyes and smile, as well as her suggestive and vulgar language.
The singer believes his friends will not like the girl, but he himself finds it difficult not to love her.
The girl suggests that Oklahoma is better than where they are, but the singer is not interested in discussing it.
The singer and the girl have spent a lot of time drinking and doing drugs together, and the singer is surprised he has fallen in love with her.
The girl's step-father, who is unpleasant, also does not approve of the singer.
Another reiteration of the fact that the girl's step-father is unpleasant and does not like the singer.
Once again, the shared love for Ragweed remains a bonding point between the girl and the singer, despite their other differences and the disapproval of the girl's family members.