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luckyhunter ,

“Rich men North of Richmond” intensifies!

Kalkaline ,
@Kalkaline@programming.dev avatar

Nah, fuck that enlightened centerist, both sides bullshit.

luckyhunter ,

You obviously don’t understand the class struggle.

Kalkaline ,
@Kalkaline@programming.dev avatar

That guy doesn’t understand his own lyrics. He says he’s not a Republican and is upset that Republicans are using his song, but he’s using all their talking points.

luckyhunter ,

He’s upset rich men profit off of keeping the working man down. Have you even listened to the song?

ohlaph ,

I’m guessing no, or they don’t comprehend it.

luckyhunter ,

10’s of millions of people love the song, it hit #1 overnight, and it’s a twangy country/bluegrass song so it must be a evil GOP anthem.

Kalkaline ,
@Kalkaline@programming.dev avatar

Bro, I listen to real country. This ain’t it. This is propaganda.

Johnny Cash would have whooped this dude’s ass.

luckyhunter ,

I think I’ll get my guidance on “real country” from any other community than this one. Have a link to a rodeo one?

SCB ,

The song is not about “rich men” in general but about politicians in Washington DC. Those are, specifically, the “rich men north of Richmond” he is discussing.

His claim is not that business owners pay too little, but that the government is taking too much, and giving it to welfare queens.

You may want to consider reading the actual lyrics.

luckyhunter , (edited )

Yes that is one of the things he talks about, among many. funny enough he only mentions the word politician once when talking about miners and doesn’t call them rich men. almost as if he wrote the song that way on purpose. Which is why it’s so damn popular with people of all classes, colors, and political leanings.

SCB , (edited )

He mentions politicians every time the chorus comes around. That is what “rich men north of Richmond” means. That’s why he isn’t calling out wealthy people south of Richmond. DC is north of Richmond.

I can’t tell you why the song is popular, but I can definitely parse the meaning of the lyrics, which you seem to be struggling with.

These rich men north of Richmond

Lord knows they all just wanna have total control

Wanna know what you think, wanna know what you do

And they don’t think you know, but I know that you do

'Cause your dollar ain’t shit and it’s taxed to no end

Cause of rich men north of Richmond

This is explicitly about politicians. The entire song is.

The only other lyrics with any content are

Well, God, if you’re 5-foot-3 and you’re 300 pounds Taxes ought not to pay for your bags of fudge rounds Young men are puttin’ themselves six feet in the ground ‘Cause all this damn country does is keep on kickin’ them down

Lambasting “welfare queens” and taxes.

Needless to say, this song isn’t popular with me, because I am capable of understanding both the lyrics and how taxes and welfare work within the context of the economy.

At no point does he decry wealthy business owners or anything of the sort, which sort of takes away from your “any political leanings” argument. This is very explicitly one political leaning, and from a person who isn’t very knowledgeable.

luckyhunter , (edited )

As i said in my comment, he mentions politicians 1 time. You can’t think of any other rich cities north or Richmond? Because i can think of a couple. If you choose to read between the lines and interpret it in only a way that you don’t like, then that’s on you.

SCB ,

Those rich cities aren’t taxing people.

This is just basic understanding of verse man, not sure how else to help you. You are absolutely incorrect here.

luckyhunter ,

Huh, I really need to move to those cities that don’t tax people!

SCB ,

They aren’t taxing people where he lives. I suppose it was wrong of me to assume you’d understand that since these lyrics are challenging for you.

luckyhunter ,

That’s the cool thing about music. The song isn’t just about him and where he lives. it can be about anyone, anywhere. Art is hard though, I know.

SCB , (edited )

Art can be interpreted, yes, but if I look at a picture of the Mona Lisa and think it is an excellent painting of a duck, I am incorrect.

There is, in fact, a correct way to interpret poetry and verse. I should know, because I literally have a degree in it and used to teach high school English.

luckyhunter ,

Agreed it is OK to be wrong. He does say after all “people like me, and people like you”. There’s the 1 line about politicians and the rest is about everyone.

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