A few days ago I noticed the YouTube reaction channels talking about this red-haired country singer, Oliver Anthony. Just a guy and his guitar, singing his heart out. I was moved as a lot of the reactors were moved.

Oliver Anthony – Rich Men North of Richmond

Then the left wing creators started giving their takes. He’s punching down on welfare recipients, he might be anti-Semitic, he’s an industry plant, etc. So I second-guessed myself.

I thought great, something else to fight over. I finally see someone who seems like they might be able to get Americans talking again – and wham! They’re fucked right out of the gate.

Oliver Anthony – Ain’t Gotta Dollar. I like this one. Puts me in mind of bluesmen like Robert Johnson and Mance Lipscomb.

But there was something about that song. It felt genuine. We’re not used to genuine these days. Go for the cynical take straightaway and you don’t get disappointed. But maybe he was the real deal after all?

Sure enough, he popped up with a clarification. He didn’t much appreciate getting “adopted” by the Republican party and having his lyrics misconstrued. His line about welfare might have come across like a right wing talking point, but I don’t think he meant it that way.

He comes across to me as an independent country conservative, basically me, 30 years ago. I had a heart for the poor back then, but I might’ve said similar things about welfare. I just wasn’t able to see the big picture back then.

I see where he turned down a record deal by some folks who apparently wanted to promote him as something he was not. So maybe he’ll do the YouTube thing like Ren and make it that way. Integrity? Could it be?

Billy Bragg – Rich Men Earning North of a Million. I never grew up around unions. Texas is a “right to work” state. But this country needs unions. The world needs unions. I’ve never been as sure of that as I am now.

I did kinda like the way English activist and folks singer Billy Bragg handled it, putting out a pro-union version, “Rich Men Earning North of A Million.” Most of us non-billionaires can agree on the problem. So why not respond with a possible solution.

I hope Oliver Anthony meant what he said in that video, because I’m tired of watching my favorite tribes fight.