You may recognize this song from the vitamin water tv commercial starring Aaron Paul. That may be the reason this song sticks in my head… but I don’t mind… I like that I keep singing this in the shower.

Watch the commercial because it’s cute. But listen to the whole song (second video, obviously) because it’s good.

John Baldwin Gourley (lead singer/writer) wrote one line (I’m a rebel just for kicks)… then wrote the rest of the song from that. I love that little anecdote because it happens to me all the time. I get one little bit that’s perfect and it spawns a whole story or a poem. (Not that it happens all the time… hell, I wish it would happen to me every damn day!)

The song speaks to the current state of the world, the U.S. especially (the band is from Alaska). If you listen to (or read) closely, you’ll find little bits about John’s daughter… and bits about the current state of the country and the world. It’s odd, almost, having all of that in the same song… but somehow, it works.

Can’t keep my hands to myself
Think I’ll dust ’em off, put ’em back up on the shelf
In case my little baby girl is in need
Am I coming out of left field?

Ooh woo, I’m a rebel just for kicks, now
I been feeling it since 1966, now
Might be over now, but I feel it still
Ooh woo, I’m a rebel just for kicks, now
Let me kick it like it’s 1986, now
Might be over now, but I feel it still

Got another mouth to feed
Leave it with a baby sitter, mama, call the grave digger
Gone with the fallen leaves
Am I coming out of left field?

Ooh woo, I’m a rebel just for kicks, now
I been feeling it since 1966, now
Might’ve had your fill, but you feel it still
Ooh woo, I’m a rebel just for kicks, now
Let me kick it like it’s 1986, now
Might be over now, but I feel it still

We could fight a war for peace
(Ooh woo, I’m a rebel just for kicks, now)
Give in to that easy living
Goodbye to my hopes and dreams
Start flipping for my enemies
We could wait until the walls come down
(Ooh woo, I’m a rebel just for kicks, now)
It’s time to give a little to the
Kids in the middle, but, oh until it falls
Won’t bother me

Is it coming?
Is it coming back?

Ooh woo, I’m a rebel just for kicks, yeah
Your love is an abyss for my heart to eclipse, now
Might be over now, but I feel it still

Ooh woo, I’m a rebel just for kicks, now
I’ve been feeling it since 1966, now
Might be over now, but I feel it still
Ooh woo, I’m a rebel just for kicks, now
Let me kick it like it’s 1986, now
Might be over now, but I feel it still
Might’ve had your fill, but I feel it still

Obviously I am not the owner of any rights to this song, video, or lyrics… just everything else… which isn’t much… ©2017 what sandra thinks