ˈɪsbɛl hɐz ɛksplˈeɪnd ðˈæt "nˈɛvɚ ɡˌənə tʃˈeɪndʒ" ɪz sˈɪmpli ɐbˌaʊt ɐ stˈʌbɚn nˈɔːɹθ ˌæləbˈæmə mˈæn hˈuː "ɹᵻfjˈuːzᵻz tə lˈɪv ɪn fˈɪɹ," wˌɪtʃ ˈɪsbɛl ɡoʊz ˌɔn tʊ ɛksplˈeɪn ɪz ɹˈæðɚ ɹˈɛɹ.
Isbell has explained that "Never Gonna Change" is simply about a stubborn North Alabama man who "refuses to live in fear," which Isbell goes on to explain is rather rare.