From a family with a long history of military service, Bryan was born in Okinawa, Japan, in 1996, while his family was deployed overseas. Growing up in the small town of Oologah, Oklahoma, Bryan started playing music at 14, when his father and grandfather bought him a Takamine guitar for his birthday. After learning to play and write lyrics, Bryan began to create his own unique sound.
Bryan describes authenticity as essential to his music: “I’ll always tell the truth in whatever I’m playing or singing.Whether it’s one of the hopeless love songs I sing or a story I wanted to put into a tune, just know at one point in time I was putting all my heart and all my thought into how my feelings and thoughts might be understood by other people.”
Nine Ball
Zach Bryan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That I bet his ass could never cash
He's betting on the eight ball landing in the side wall
Cold blooded killer if you ask
But every night he needs me to land himself a red three
Corner pocket at 12 AM
Only twelve years old but I got a hold of a pole stick
I was gifted from him
My father is a betting man
But I got myself a steady hand
He's sitting in the corner with a six pack of Corona
Betting that his son'll win again
Go bet another six pack
Bet I make comeback
I know that this table's got a lean
Won't you take me fishin'? And I wanna try out
For the seventh grade football team
You'll probably be nothing but the town's old drunkard
And die on a smoke stained stool
Right now he's got a bargain that he's taken too far
On his boys game of nine-ball pool
My father was a betting man
But I got myself a steady hand
He's sitting in the corner with a six pack of Corona
Betting that his son'll win again
My father was a betting man
My father was a betting man
But I got myself a steady hand
He's sitting in the corner with a six pack of Corona
Betting that his son'll win again
I don't wanna bet but my daddy wrote a check
That I bet his ass could never cash
He's betting on the eight ball landing in the side wall
Cold-blooded killer if you ask
The lyrics to Zach Bryan's song "Nine Ball" explore the complex relationship between a father and his son, centered around the father's love for gambling and the son's desire to prove himself. The son acknowledges that his father is a betting man, taking risks and making bets that he may not be able to fulfill. The reference to his father writing a check that he couldn't cash implies that the father makes grand promises and bets without fully considering the consequences.
The son, who is only twelve years old, idolizes his father and wants to impress him. He has learned to play pool at a young age, gifted a pool stick by his father. The son describes how every night, he tries to land a red three into the corner pocket at midnight. This serves as a metaphor for the son's efforts to earn his father's approval and validation.
Despite the father's gambling habits, the son demonstrates determination and skill. He believes in his ability to make a comeback and succeed at various other activities, such as fishing and trying out for the seventh-grade football team. The son imagines a potential future for his father, envisioning him as nothing more than the town's old drunkard, dying on a smoke-stained stool. This suggests a mixture of admiration and disappointment in his father's choices.
Overall, "Nine Ball" portrays the tension and yearning for validation within a father-son relationship. It delves into the contrast between the son's steadiness and resilience and the father's reckless gambling habits, highlighting the son's desire to prove himself worthy of his father's faith.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't wanna bet but my father wrote a check
I am reluctant to engage in gambling, but my father foolishly made a promise that he is unable to fulfill.
That I bet his ass could never cash
I am confident that he cannot deliver on his promise.
He's betting on the eight ball landing in the side wall
He is placing his wager on a difficult shot, showing his reckless nature.
Cold blooded killer if you ask
He is ruthless and unemotional when it comes to gambling.
But every night he needs me to land himself a red three
Despite his flaws, he depends on me to execute a specific shot.
Corner pocket at 12 AM
He expects me to successfully sink the ball into the designated pocket at midnight.
Only twelve years old but I got a hold of a pole stick
Even at a young age, I possess the skill to handle a pool cue.
I was gifted from him
He passed down this talent to me.
My father is a betting man
Gambling is a significant part of my father's identity.
But I got myself a steady hand
In contrast, I possess a controlled and stable hand for precision.
He's sitting in the corner with a six pack of Corona
He is positioned in the corner, accompanied by a six-pack of Corona beer.
Betting that his son'll win again
He is wagering that I will emerge victorious once more.
Go bet another six pack
He is encouraged to place another bet, this time involving a six-pack of beer.
Bet I make comeback
I confidently assert that I will make a successful return and overcome any setbacks.
I know that this table's got a lean
I am aware that the pool table is slightly uneven, affecting the outcome of shots.
I want you take me fishing and want to try out
I desire to spend quality time with my father by engaging in fishing and attempting to join the seventh-grade football team.
For the seventh-grade football team
I aspire to participate in the school's football team for seventh graders.
You'll probably be nothing but the town's old drunkard
In the future, you will likely be perceived as a habitual drinker within our community.
And die on a smoke stained stool
Your eventual demise will occur while seated on a cigarette-burned barstool.
Right now he's got a bargain that he's taken too far
Currently, he has undertaken a risky gamble that has exceeded reasonable limits.
On his boys game of nine-ball pool
He has placed excessive bets on my performance in the nine-ball pool game.
My father was a betting man
It is a fundamental aspect of my father's character to engage in gambling.
My father was a betting man
Indeed, my father had a strong inclination towards participating in wagers.
But I got myself a steady hand
In contrast, I possess a steady and controlled hand for precision.
He's sitting in the corner with a six pack of Corona
He remains seated in the corner, accompanied by a six-pack of Corona beer.
Betting that his son'll win again
He is gambling on the fact that I will emerge as the victor once more.
My father was a betting man
Gambling was an integral part of my father's nature.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Zachary Lane Bryan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Penny Wild
I don't wanna bet, but my father wrote a check that I bet his ass could never cash
He's bettin' on the eight ball landing in the side wall, cold-blooded killer if you ask
But every night, he needs me to land himself a red three-corner pocket at 12 A.M
Only twelve years-old, but I got a hold of a pool stick I was gifted from him
My father is a bettin' man
But I got myself a steady hand
He's sittin' in the corner with a six-pack of Corona
Bettin' that his son'll win again
Go bet another six-pack
Bet I make a comeback
Count on that this table's got a lean
Won't you take me fishing? And I want to try out for the seventh grade football team
You'll probably be nothin' but this town's old drunkard and die on a smoke-stained stool
But right now, he's got a bargain that he's taken too far on his boy's game of nine-ball pool
My father was a bettin' man
But I got myself a steady hand
He's sittin' in the corner with a six-pack of Corona
Bettin' that his son'll win again
My father was a bettin' man
My father was a bettin' man
But I got myself a steady hand
He's sittin' in the corner with a six pack of Corona
Bettin' that his son'll win again
I don't wanna bet, but my daddy wrote a check that I bet his ass could never cash
He's bettin' on the eight ball landing in the side wall
Cold-blooded killer if you ask
Zdravko Šinjori
“Nine Ball"
I don't wanna bet, but my father wrote a check that I bet his ass could never cash
He's bettin' on the eight ball landing in the side wall, cold-blooded killer if you ask
But every night, he needs me to land himself a red three-corner pocket at 12 A.M
Only twelve years-old, but I got a hold of a pool stick I was gifted from him
My father is a bettin' man
But I got myself a steady hand
He's sittin' in the corner with a six-pack of Corona
Bettin' that his son'll win again
Go bet another six-pack
Bet I make a comeback
Count on that this table's got a lean
Won't you take me fishing? And I want to try out for the seventh grade football team
You'll probably be nothin' but this town's old drunkard and die on a smoke-stained stool
But right now, he's got a bargain that he's taken too far on his boy's game of nine-ball pool
My father was a bettin' man
But I got myself a steady hand
He's sittin' in the corner with a six-pack of Corona
Bettin' that his son'll win again
My father was a bettin' man
My father was a bettin' man
But I got myself a steady hand
He's sittin' in the corner with a six pack of Corona
Bettin' that his son'll win again
I don't wanna bet, but my daddy wrote a check that I bet his ass could never cash
He's bettin' on the eight ball landing in the side wall
Cold-blooded killer if you ask
Jessica Wynn
Dude is single handedly keeping music alive
knowledgefarmer
lmao
Nathan Davies
HA
The Comedy Bros
There’s no other artist out there doing anything remotely close to what Zach is doing. Incredible.
Mason Honea
Bro just made my whole weekend plans a whole lot easier: Drive through sunsets and blast this
gavin brenier
i would like another raw acoustic album
Idle Hands
I second this
Justtryme 2020
Third
Em Boss
Fourth
Cartmanbra
I think we gotta give the man a break the dude hasn’t stopped