Shelby Lynne (born Shelby Lynn Moorer, October 22, 1968, Quantico, Virginia… Read Full Bio ↴Shelby Lynne (born Shelby Lynn Moorer, October 22, 1968, Quantico, Virginia) is an American singer, songwriter and actress.

Lynne's first recording for Epic was a duet with George Jones, "If I Could Bottle This Up", which became a top-50 hit in 1988. In 2000 she won a Grammy award for "Best New Artist", despite the fact that she had been recording and releasing records for more than ten years

With Tears, Lies, and Alibis the follow-up to 2008's Just A Little Lovin' and the first release on her own label, Everso Records, Shelby Lynne affirms her position as a visionary, iconoclastic artist who deftly weaves country, soul, rock, blues, pop and folk influences to forge her own unique style. Like Identity Crisis (2003) and Suit Yourself (2005), this sparse, unguarded collection was produced by Lynne, who evokes a live-in-the-studio vibe from a stellar group of musicians. Born in Quantico, VA, she grew up in Jackson, AL and headed to Nashville at an early age. At 18, Lynne s demos landed her an appearance on TNN s Nashville Now series, which led to a Top 50 duet ( "If I Could Bottle This Up" ) with George Jones and a record deal. Following the release of the critically acclaimed I Am Shelby Lynne in 2000, she won the GRAMMY® for Best New Artist. She made her acting debut in 2005, playing Johnny Cash's mother in the Fox Searchlight motion picture Walk the Line.

I Won't Die Alone
Shelby Lynne Lyrics

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Ramble with an overtone
This queen lives without a drone
Searching lights they lead me home
I won't die alone.

Gamble with your old wife's money
You might need to call her honey
Nights are black and days are sunny

I won't die alone.

Hot white cake and ice cold coffee
Get this creepy monkey off me
Stomp and rant but do it softly
I won't die alone.

Wait and watch and paint and powder
Turn the noise up make it louder
I can't leave here as a coward
I won't die alone.

Wipe your head and be not sweaty
This room feels a little heavy
I ain't worried I am ready
I won't die alone.

It's raining on my love parade
Look at what a mess I made
It's all a joke a big charade
I won't die alone.

This is easy this is gravy
I feel like a little baby
This feels like a natural fade

I won't die alone
I won't die alone.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Shelby Lynne's song "I Won't Die Alone" depict a sense of resilience and self-assurance as the singer faces mortality with a calm and hopeful mentality. The first verse of the song suggests that the singer is a wanderer or a drifter, who lives free without any constraints and relies on her intuition to guide her towards her desired destination. She may be on a quest to find herself, and the "searching lights" lead her home, signify that she trusts her instincts to lead her towards a place of belonging where she will not feel lost or alone.

The second verse touches upon the idea of taking risks and living life on one's own terms. The phrase "gamble with your old wife's money" may be interpreted in several ways. It may suggest that the singer is willing to take risks with things that are not rightfully hers or that she is willing to live life on her own terms regardless of societal expectations or norms. She may face challenges in life, as signified by the contrast between "nights are black and days are sunny," but regardless of the ups and downs, she is determined to face them with courage and boldness.

The third verse may symbolize the singer's struggle to deal with inner demons or personal battles. The phrases "hot white cake and ice cold coffee," and "get this creepy monkey off me" may suggest a sense of discomfort or anxiety that the singer needs to deal with. Still, in her resolve, she chooses to overcome it with a sense of empowerment and strength. She recognizes that it's okay to stomp and rant, but she chooses to do it softly, meaning that she's in control of her emotions.

The fourth verse emphasizes the idea of creating one's own destiny and not giving in to societal pressures. The phrase "Wait and watch and paint and powder" may suggest that the singer is focused on living her life the way she wants to live it, without having to conform to societal norms. She is determined to change the noise to make it louder, and she is not afraid to stand up for herself or others when it is necessary. The final verse emphasizes that the singer has come to terms with her own mortality and is at peace with it. The phrase, "This feels like a natural fade" may suggest that she has accepted her fate and is ready to face the end with a sense of contentment.

Line by Line Meaning

Ramble with an overtone
I'm wandering without purpose or direction, but with a sense of something else in the air.

This queen lives without a drone
I, as a queen, live freely without the restrictions of a drone or a follower.

Searching lights they lead me home
The lights guide me back to where I belong.