trey on Nostr: Thoughts on Oliver Anthony, the musician who’s recent claim to fame is his song ...

Thoughts on Oliver Anthony, the musician who’s recent claim to fame is his song “Rich Men North of Richmond.”

It pains me that again the internet is insanely politicizing this man and song. There seem to be two extremes trending:

1) Rolling Stone and other mags saying it’s a right wing anthem
2) Those suggesting this is an anthem for the right or ushering in reaganomics

I’ll first say the line about welfare sucks—i get the sentiment, but too many are running with it. My sense is he wrote it out of frustration for those that work hard while many others don’t.

I feel like I know him. I grew up about 45 min west of Farmville, Virginia where he lives. Most of my family still lives in that area and talks exactly like he does in these lyrics. Ever since I can remember family and folks in that area despised politicians of all stripes, hated “Yankees” (folks north of the mason dixon line) who snobbishly looked down on people from the south. They’ve been lied to by politicians and DC elite forever, seen their jobs taken away (factories, farming, coal mining, tobacco farming, etc) and are tired of it all. Unfortunately many of them were swept up in Trump’s messaging and election, but many others like my granny still just don’t trust any of it and likes to sit on her porch in a rocking chair, and live slowly.

I moved to New England from that area when I was 15. I’m 30 now, living just more than half my life up here. While I became who I am today in New England and am thankful for it in so many ways, I’m still a southern boy at heart in many ways. I miss the slow living and just no plans of where I grew up. Many people have a better sense of slow living, not falling into consumerism or the politics of the day. Just sitting outside laughing with friends and family while sharing a meal.

As he does, I too detest the politicians that have preyed on poor and vulnerable folks in this region who now are glued to social media and savior-like politicians. Many others continue to resist this, and I assume Oliver Anthony is the same.

I’m not really into that kind of music (anymore). But it seems like Oliver is a good guy who means well, cares about his community and the lies and hypocrisy of politicians, and likes music. That’s it. I don’t think he would label himself as the creator of a right wing anthem, as Rolling Stone stupidly wrote.

I’m a yankee now, much to the chagrin of many in my family, but I do detest liberal media outlets that jump on simple stories and create insane headlines like Rolling Stones. He’s a man, making music, and writing what’s on his heart and mind. Doesn’t seem to be hurting anyone, and seems to resonate with many others. If only we could keep political media machines from both right and left extremes out of it.

I wish him well, and as someone also in sobriety, it’s a noble pursuit trying to be better for yourself and for others.