About the song
**Willie Nelson – Still Not Dead** is a song that perfectly captures the legendary singer-songwriter’s signature blend of humor, resilience, and outlaw country charm. At 83 years old when he released it in 2017, Willie Nelson was well aware of the countless rumors about his death that seemed to circulate every few months. Rather than getting frustrated, he did what he does best—turned it into a song.
The track, featured on his album *God’s Problem Child*, is a playful yet defiant response to the whispers that he had passed away. With a wry grin in his voice, Nelson delivers lines like, *“I woke up still not dead again today”*, poking fun at both the media and the passage of time itself. It’s this kind of self-aware humor that has endeared him to fans for decades. But beneath the jokes, there’s a deeper message—one of perseverance, gratitude, and an unshakable love for life and music.
Musically, **Still Not Dead** is classic Willie Nelson, driven by a steady, toe-tapping rhythm and his unmistakable phrasing. His guitar, *Trigger*, with its well-worn, battle-scarred surface, rings out just as clearly as it has for over half a century. The melody is simple, almost conversational, allowing the lyrics to take center stage. There’s an effortless ease to the performance, a reminder that for Nelson, making music is as natural as breathing.
Beyond the humor, the song speaks to something universal—the idea of defying expectations and living life on your own terms. Nelson has never been one to conform, and at an age when most would have long retired, he continues to tour, record, and challenge the norms of what an artist “should” be doing. **Still Not Dead** is more than just a lighthearted joke; it’s a testament to Nelson’s spirit, a reminder that he’s still here, still playing, and still very much alive in every sense of the word.
Video
Lyrics
I woke up still not dead again today
The internet said I had passed away
If I died I wasn’t dead to stay
And I woke up still not dead again today
Well, I woke up still not dead again today
The gardener did not find me that a way
You can’t believe a word that people say
And I woke up still not dead again today
I run up and down the road making music as I go
They say my pace would kill a normal man
But I’ve never been accused of being normal anyway
And I woke up still not dead again today
I woke up still not dead again today
The news said I was gone to my dismay
Don’t bury me, I’ve got a show to play
And I woke up still not dead again today
I run up and down the road making music as I go
They say my pace would kill a normal man
But I’ve never been accused of being normal anyway
And I woke up still not dead again today
Last night I had a dream that I died twice yesterday
But I woke up still not dead again today
