Released: 2021
Morgan Wallen’s ‘Still Goin Down’ is a love letter to his small-town upbringing, celebrating the simple pleasures of country life. It’s a song that paints a vivid picture of rural America, where the traditions and lifestyle are deeply ingrained and cherished. Wallen emphasizes his pride in his roots and defends the authenticity of his country persona against any who might question it.
The opening lines of the song, ‘The way I talk, I guess I got it from my pops / Product of some kneelin’ down / In a town where the doors don’t lock’ speak to Wallen’s upbringing. He’s a product of his environment, raised in a small town where everyone knows everyone, and the doors don’t need to be locked. The phrase ‘kneelin’ down’ refers to the strong religious faith common in many small towns.
‘From a scene a little more Podunk than pop’ is a nod to his country roots. ‘Podunk’ is a term often used to describe a small, insignificant town, often rural or remote. Here, Wallen is saying he’s more country than mainstream pop, which is often seen as more polished or sophisticated.
‘For some folks a back road gets old / But for me, it just can’t’ is Wallen’s declaration of his love for the country lifestyle. Back roads are often associated with rural areas, and while some might find them boring or monotonous, Wallen finds them comforting and familiar.
The chorus, ‘I’m from a small town, southern drawl crowd / We’re sippin’ clear, drinkin’ beer on a Friday night / Every country girl got on her cutoffs / Shakin’ her hips, take a trip, buddy tell me I’m a liar / Still circle up big trucks around a fire / Still kickin’ up some dust behind the tires / Call it cliché, but hey, just take it from me / It’s still goin’ down out in the country’ is a celebration of country life. ‘Sippin’ clear’ refers to drinking moonshine, a homemade alcohol that’s a staple in country culture. The ‘circle up big trucks around a fire’ and ‘kickin’ up some dust behind the tires’ are typical country pastimes, often involving bonfires and off-road driving.
‘Somewhere now, someone’s out there / Sippin’ on some hundred proof / Every day, a baby’s born with some baby blues / A good ol’ boy’s got on his faded boots / Workin’ a nine-to-five’ is a snapshot of everyday life in the country. ‘Hundred proof’ refers to a strong alcohol, while ‘baby blues’ could refer to both the common blue eyes of Caucasian babies and the genre of music. The ‘good ol’ boy’ in his ‘faded boots’ represents the hardworking country folks who work regular jobs.
‘I’m just another southern hell raiser / Ain’t breakin’ ground / Makin’ sound for them drop-it-down tailgaters’ is Wallen’s way of saying he’s just like everyone else in his town. He’s not trying to be a trailblazer or revolutionary; he’s just making music for his people, the ‘drop-it-down tailgaters’, which refers to people who party in the parking lots of concerts or sports events, often from the tailgate of a pickup truck.
In conclusion, ‘Still Goin Down’ is a proud proclamation of Wallen’s country roots and lifestyle. He’s not trying to be anything he’s not, and he’s not going to apologize for being a product of his environment. The song is a testament to the enduring appeal of the country way of life, and a reminder that no matter how much the world changes, there are some things that will always remain the same.
