About the song
Willie Nelson has always had a sly sense of humor, and Still Not Dead is one of his wittiest, most defiant late-career statements. Released in 2017 on his album God’s Problem Child, the song finds Nelson addressing, with a wink and a grin, the persistent rumors of his death that have followed him for years. At 84 years old when the song came out, Nelson had already spent decades as a living legend—one of the last standing giants of classic outlaw country, a genre he helped define. Yet, despite his age and the inevitabilities of time, he was still here, still playing, still writing, and, most importantly, still laughing.
What makes Still Not Dead so effective isn’t just its humor—it’s the way Nelson delivers it. His voice, weathered by time but still unmistakably his, carries the song’s playful yet stubborn spirit. The lyrics paint the picture of a man who wakes up each day to find that, contrary to what the internet or the tabloids might say, he’s still very much alive. “I woke up still not dead again today,” he sings, his voice full of knowing amusement. There’s something profoundly charming about the way he turns what could be a morbid subject into a celebration of resilience, persistence, and sheer ornery determination.
Musically, Still Not Dead is classic Willie Nelson—loose, easygoing, and steeped in traditional country instrumentation. His signature nylon-string guitar, Trigger, makes its presence known with its familiar warm tones, while the arrangement is simple yet effective: shuffling drums, steady bass, and tasteful piano and steel guitar flourishes that add just the right touch of honky-tonk energy. There’s an undeniable swing to the whole thing, a feeling that this is a song meant to be played in a smoky bar filled with people who appreciate the kind of humor that only comes with a life well-lived.
Beyond the jokes, though, there’s a deeper message in Still Not Dead. Nelson, ever the philosopher, isn’t just poking fun at death—he’s embracing life. At an age when many artists have long since retired, he was still writing, still touring, and still proving that he had plenty left to say. The song is a testament to his refusal to be boxed in by expectations, whether they come from fans, critics, or even the limits of the human body. In that sense, it’s a perfect encapsulation of who Willie Nelson is: an artist who has always done things on his own terms, never in a rush to meet anyone else’s timetable.
And yet, despite its humor, Still Not Dead carries an unspoken truth—one day, inevitably, the rumors will no longer be false. But until that day comes, Nelson makes it clear that he’s not just existing; he’s living. It’s a song about shaking off the weight of mortality with a chuckle and a guitar in hand. It’s a reminder that the best way to face the inevitable is with a song, a laugh, and, if you’re lucky, a long road ahead.
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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
