I was not going to write about Oliver Anthony’s brilliant song, Rich Men North of Richmond, because I have nothing worthy to add. The video puts all other commentary to shame. North of Richmond refers to the federal government, which is too large, too powerful and too uncaring.
But Mark Antonio Wright, executive editor of the Never Trump National Review, butted in with a Learn-to-Code column attacking Anthony for daring to complain about DC’s treatment of the working class. It lectured Anthony to be more like Woody Guthrie, the Nazi apologist and communist.
Anthony’s song says:
I’ve been sellin’ my soul, workin’ all day
Overtime hours for bullshit pay
So I can sit out here and waste my life away
Drag back home and drown my troubles awayWright responded, “My brother in Christ, you live in the United States of America in 2023 — if you’re a fit, able-bodied man, and you’re working ‘overtime hours for bullshit pay,’ you need to find a new job.”
Get a job?
Get a job?
Maybe Oliver Anthony should be more like National Review’s Mark Antonio Wright, and earn big money by selling his soul?
Well there we go. If everyone would just take a job as a Fortune 500 CEO, all the problems would be solved.
The losers are going to work overtime to “cancel” Oliver Anthony because he scares the crap out of them.
It is both a stupid comment as it ignores the big picture, which is what the song is about, but is also decent advice if it was meant sincerely (which I doubt it was).
I’ve counseled a lot of younger people over the years. There isn’t anything in existence resembling “corporate loyalty” anymore and people should always do what is best for themselves and their loved ones (if they have any). Shit job ? Move on. Opportunities do abound if you are able bodied. Not all of us are nor do our circumstances sometimes allow it but it is still valid advice for many young people.
As to that sh*theel scribblers commentary ? Learn to code indeed because scribblers were never needed and even fewer are needed every passing day. It’ll soon be time for him to move on as well.
I agree. Trump connects on a cultural level as one would expect of a populist. This song is a popular “working mans” sentiment and one which invites your cautionary advice. Neither the populism of Trump nor the progressive conservatism of NR (does anyone even subscribe anymore?) offer the kind of tough medicine the US requires to get its fiscal affairs in order.
I don’t think we are going down without a fight. In spite of paying off the media and trying to control the information , the narrative of the information war is shifting. There actions say they are scared ,and they should be.
My brother in Christ… – Nice opener… playing that card are we? What a contemptuous twit.
Good on Surber for shining a spotlight on closet commie Guthrie, I know he’s from an earlier era but he influenced the Bob Dylans and other 60’s era rockers who subsequently made fortunes with their “railin’ against the man” and “freedom” schtick when in fact they were rock ribbed authoritarian P’s O’S which as you remember really came out during Covid. Neil Young gets honourable mention here.
As tykes we had to sing Guthrie’s This Land is Your Land what seemed like almost every damn day at school.
The best part of that song is the end.
Great comment … and great article by Surber
Guthrie was a communist, but he was no Hitler apologist.
Tear the fascists down – Woody Guthrie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKVnur5DkdI
So Long It’s Been Good to Know You (War Version)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDEXsviaDe8
.
Talking Sailor – Woody Guthrie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkGhZufGx7A
“Our UNION is gonna break those slavery chains” ??
Huh? Sounds like Commie Woody was a UNION man? Imagine that? I can’t see the NR endorsing a UNIONISTA singing … “get a UNION job”.
“Guthrie . . . was no Hitler apologist . . .”
. . . after the Spanish Civil War. He had to speed shift without double clutching, grinding his mental gears, into a Stalin apologist.
Most of the 30’s American communists went through that. I knew a lot of them in my youth, including a number of Woody’s literal fellow travelers.
Woody was also a Jesus Freak, promoting Jesus as a socialist. Lee Hays joined the party through the Presbyterian Church, so he was a natural fit to team up with Woody. Christianity was quite big in the south and midwest American communist party.
I seem to remember that Lee Hays came to hate Pete Seeger for taking credit for one of the songs he wrote.
Right now on the iTunes country charts, Oliver Anthony has the top 3 songs, 7 of the top 10, 12 of the top 20, and 17 of the top 40. I have never seen domination of the charts like that, ever.
He’s going to be a very wealthy man in short order.
Good for him.
“Rich men north of Richmond”. I just love that title.
Btw, if you haven’t downloaded the song yet, please do so now. Because it drives the left and useless NeverTrump morons like Mark Antonio Wright crazy.
Great song, great performance but the idea that Anthony is a farmer with no musical experience is a little hard to believe. He’s been doing this for a while.
So Kate, you’re liking Surber’s posts.
More inside-the-Beltway ignorance from the ruling elite class. DC is a hive-minded community living in a media bubble. I can hardly wait until their electricity goes out and the trucks quit bringing them food. We should build a wall around the place and not let anyone out.