Released: May 23, 1995

Songwriter: Fred Rose Hank Williams

Producer: Andy Paley

Now you're looking at a man that's getting kinda mad
I had a lot of luck but it's all been bad
No matter how I struggle and strive
I'll never get out of this world alive

Well, my fishing pole's broke, creek's full of sand
My woman ran away with another man
No matter how I struggle and strive
I'll never get out of this world alive

Well, my distant uncle passed away
He left me quite a batch
I was living high until that fatal day
A lawyer proved I wasn't born, I was only hatched

Everything's against me and it's gotten me down
If I jumped in the river I would probably drown
No matter how I struggle and strive
I'll never get out of this world alive

Shake it, baby
Play the guitar, boys, play it, play it

These old shabby shoes, I'm wearing all the time
They're full of holes and nails
Hey, brother if I stepped on a worn out dime
I bet a nickel, I could tell ya if it was heads or tails

And I ain't gonna worry, wrinkles in my brow
'Cause nothing's ever gonna be bright anyhow
No matter how I struggle and strive
I'll never get out of this world alive

No matter how I struggle and strive
I'll never get out of this world alive
Alive

Jerry Lee Lewis

Jerry Lee Lewis was a leading figure in the popularization of rock & roll during the 1950s. He was first signed to Sun Records in 1956 where he was labelmates with Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and other early rock artists. Of those musicians, however, he was the only piano player and combined with his heavy-handed playing style, sexually suggestive lyrics, and provocative stage antics he came to epitomize the rebelliousness of the genre.

He rose to international fame for his 1957 versions of the songs “Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On.”

Lewis' popularity rapidly tumbled, however, when in 1958, when at the age of 22, he married his 13-year-old cousin. Though this scandal continued to tarnish his image, Lewis never retired from music. As of October 2015, he continues to perform live.