‘Hell or High Water’ by Bailey Zimmerman – Lyrics & Meaning

One look at who's appearing on the upcoming Twisters movie soundtrack and you'll know Hollywood, like most of the world, has gone country.

The 29-song soundtrack, accompanying the blockbuster sequel to the 1996 classic film, is set to feature the voices of Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll, Tyler Childers, Megan Moroney and many more stars across the genre.

The latest to share their contribution to the gale-force project is Bailey Zimmerman, whose 'Hell or High Water' dropped Thursday (May 23). His song follows Luke Combs' 'Ain't No Love in Oklahoma', a fiery, guitar-driven tune that may hit hard but 'Hell or High Water' hits different.

'Hell or High Water' is by no means a departure from Zimmerman's sound, the song resembling many of his more subdued Religiously offerings. It's a careful extension of thoughtful hits like 'Rock and A Hard Place' and 'Get to Gettin' Gone', songs that provide commiseration and comfort against a gentle arrangement.

'Hell or High Water' offers much the same, opening with a trickle of pensive strings. Soft keys and silvery cymbal hits join the mix with the tearful moans of a fiddle and lap steel occasionally peaking through. It's an understated yet effective composition that allows the lyrics to carry most of the weight.

"Is this as bad as it gets or is it gonna get better?
Is this some kind of test, or will it be like this forever?
'Cause I ain't ever see a cloud this dark
And I ain't ever been down this far
Is this as bad as it gets or is it gonna get better?"

Born from a barrage of questions, 'Hell or High Water' immediately bathes listeners in a sense of unease. Is this as bad as it gets? Will it be like this forever? Is it gonna get better? They're questions that have likely plagued all of our minds whenever times get hard and we begin to experience worry or feelings of hopelessness.

But the artist shares a few verses of wisdom to guide fans through rough waters.

"I know it ain't gonna be no easy ride
And what doesn't kills you makes you stronger
But I'm running out of places I can hide
And everyday it's like the nights get longer
When I close my eyes, yeah the waves get high and the flames get hotter
So I'm asking myself 'cause I can't tell
If this is hell or just high water?"

Life is hard and it's difficult to not get bogged down in the anxiety and stress that sometimes comes along with being human. When all of that begins to feel insurmountable, when the waves get high and the flames get hotter, Zimmerman takes a moment to ask himself, ‘Is this really the eternal damnation it seems like or is this just what I'm experiencing now? Is this hell or just high water?’

"Is the tide gonna turn or will it keep on rising?
Is it all gonna burn at a strike like lightning?
'Cause I'm fighting and I'm just
Hangin' on to any thread of hope
Wonderin' if I should just let go
'Cause it's killin' me to just keep on climbin'
Lookin' for a silver lining"

More questions flood the song. Is the tide gonna turn? Is it all gonna burn? Oh, will it ever be over? Oh, am I two steps back, or one step closer? Zimmerman admits it's difficult to hang onto hope and sometimes it feels like letting go is the option, but he continues to look toward the calm in the storm. So whenever the waves get high and the flames get hotter ...

“I know damn well
That this ain't hell
It's just high water
High water
It's just high water”

'Hell or High Water' speaks for itself but Zimmerman offered a few encouraging words to listeners ahead of the song's release, letting them know that things do get better and the high waters eventually ebb and retreat.

"Whatever is going on in y'alls life, I just hope this song gives you a sense peace and gives you hope because it does get better," the artist shared of the song on social media. "AND to those of yall that are on the greener side of the battle… i hope this song makes you realize it was only high water. God gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers".

On the song's official release day, the artist spoke to fans once more, writing in a post, "We’re all out here trying our best and sometimes it can feel like our best is never enough… i hope this song helps yall realize YOU ARE ENOUGH."

“Is this as bad as it gets or is it gonna get better?
Is this some kind of test, or will it be like this forever?
'Cause I ain't ever see a cloud this dark
And I ain't ever been down this far
Is this as bad as it gets or is it gonna get better?

I know it ain't gonna be no easy ride
And what doesn't kills you makes you stronger
But I'm running out of places I can hide
And everyday it's like the nights get longer
When I close my eyes, yeah the waves get high and the flames get hotter
So I'm asking myself 'cause I can't tell
If this is hell or just high water?

Is the tide gonna turn or will it keep on rising?
Is it all gonna burn and it strikes like lightning?
'Cause I'm fighting and I'm just
Hangin' on to any thread of hope
Wonderin' if I should just let go
'Cause it's killin' me to just keep on climbin'
Lookin' for a silver lining

I know it ain't gonna be no easy ride
And what doesn't kills you makes you stronger
But I'm running out of places I can hide
And everyday it's like the nights get longer
When I close my eyes, yeah the waves get high and the flames get hotter
So I'm asking myself 'cause I can't tell
If this is hell or just high water?

Oh, will it ever be over?
Oh, am I two steps back, or one step closer

I know it ain't gonna be no easy ride
And what doesn't kills you makes you stronger
But I'm running out of places I can hide
And everyday it's like the nights get longer
When I close my eyes, yeah the waves get high and the flames get hotter
So I'm asking myself 'cause I know damn well
That this ain't hell
It's just high water
High water
It's just high water”

--

For more on Bailey Zimmerman, see below: