If there’s one thing Willie Nelson has never lost — no matter his age — it’s his sense of humor. And nowhere is that more brilliantly on display than in “Still Not Dead,” the tongue-in-cheek, toe-tapping anthem he released in 2017 on his album God’s Problem Child. At once a clever response to internet death hoaxes and a deeper meditation on aging, the song is Willie at his most candid: funny, self-aware, and quietly profound.
By the time this song came out, Willie Nelson was already in his mid-80s, and for years, rumors had been swirling on social media about his supposed passing. Rather than ignore them or respond with frustration, Willie did something far more effective: he wrote a song about it.
“I woke up still not dead again today…”
That opening line hits like a punchline and a revelation all at once. It’s delivered with that signature Willie phrasing—half-spoken, half-sung, with a sly grin underneath it all. But as the verses unfold, what begins as a humorous response grows into a celebration of life itself—the simple joy of waking up, doing what you love, and proving the world wrong just by carrying on.
Musically, “Still Not Dead” stays true to Willie’s classic style: sparse but tight instrumentation, a subtle groove, and his trusty guitar Trigger holding it all together. The band doesn’t overplay—they give Willie room to tell his story, to share his joke, and to let the message land with ease.
But what really elevates the song is the fact that beneath the humor lies truth. Willie sings not only about false rumors and headlines, but about mortality, resilience, and choosing to laugh instead of fear what’s ahead. The lyrics hint at long nights, aging bones, and the ghostly company of friends long gone—but they never linger in sorrow. Instead, Willie tips his hat to it all and keeps singing.
By the final verse, you get the sense that “Still Not Dead” is more than a song. It’s a statement of defiance, gratitude, and good old-fashioned country grit. Willie isn’t denying time. He’s walking alongside it, telling it jokes, and writing another verse.
In a world that often rushes past its elders, Willie Nelson reminds us with this song that wisdom, wit, and vitality don’t vanish with age. Sometimes, they grow stronger. And sometimes, they sing back:
“I run up and down the road and make a lot of noise, but I woke up still not dead again today.”