About the song
For those who’ve followed American music across decades—particularly the long, winding road of **country**, **outlaw country**, and **roots music**—the name **Willie Nelson** is more than familiar. It’s legendary. At once a rebel and a poet, a troubadour and a philosopher, **Nelson** has never played by the rules of commercialism or public expectation. And in the 2017 song **“Still Not Dead,”** he offers a masterclass in self-deprecation, humor, and the enduring spirit that has defined his career.
By the time **“Still Not Dead”** was released, **Willie Nelson** was in his mid-eighties. Rumors of his death had circulated frequently online—a bizarre modern phenomenon that targets aging public figures with eerie regularity. But Nelson, rather than taking offense or retreating into silence, responded in the best way he knows how: with a song. A sly grin runs through every line of **Still Not Dead**, as he gently mocks the premature obituaries and jabs at the absurdity of aging in the public eye. “I woke up still not dead again today,” he sings with a twinkle, turning mortality into a punchline and a celebration all at once.
Musically, the track is pure **Willie**—easygoing, unhurried, and anchored by his signature nylon-string guitar, **Trigger**, along with a classic country rhythm section. But it’s the lyrics that steal the show, revealing the artist’s blend of **wisdom, wit, and resilience**. Rather than dwelling on decline, Nelson flips the narrative. He reminds listeners that as long as you can laugh at yourself, you’re very much alive.
**Willie Nelson – Still Not Dead** is not just a song. It’s a statement. It’s proof that the spark of creativity and spirit doesn’t dim with age—it just grows more comfortable in its own skin. This track is a wink to the grave and a warm handshake to the living. In true **Nelson** fashion, it’s an anthem for anyone who’s been underestimated, written off, or simply refuses to stop singing.
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
