He's Lost The Cousin-Banging Hicks

My, how things change.

Country music has thrived for years as the soundtrack to redneck America, supplying the Republican heartlands with a diet of knee-jerk jingoism that has included flag-waving anthems supporting the war on terror.

But as the US death toll rises in Iraq and public patience with the conflict — and with George W. Bush — diminishes, many anti-war songs are emerging from Nashville, Tennessee, home of the genre.

No one has moved further than Toby Keith and Darryl Worley, two of the biggest names in country music.

In 2002, Keith had a huge hit with Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue, which includes the lyric: "You'll be sorry that you messed with the US of A, 'cause we'll put a boot in your ass — it's the American Way."

Worley's Have You Forgotten in 2003 justified the Iraq invasion as a response to the September 11 attacks. The military liked it so much he was presented with a flag that had flown over the Pentagon.

Now Keith says he is a lifelong Democrat and has claimed he never supported the war, while Worley has had a hit with I Just Came Back from a War, about a soldier returning from Iraq with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Tim McGraw — the biggest contemporary country star — has a hit single with If You're Reading This, about a dead soldier's last letter home, and the Dixie Chicks, boycotted in 2003 after lead singer Natalie Maines told an audience in London: "We're ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas," won five Grammy Awards this year.

The changing tone reflects a growing scepticism in heartlands that have disproportionately contributed the young soldiers who have been fighting and dying.Brian Hiatt, associate editor of Rolling Stone magazine, said: "Popular music is reflecting the culture, as it always does."

Comments

Fuck Darryl Worley. In other words, when there was a buck to be made pumping George's pud, he was all over it. Now that there's a buck to be made bashing the war, he's all over that. And what, he wants a cookie for recognizing the way the wind blows?

Give me some James McMurtry.

A.

[Don Mahoney]

Ever notice the anti-war songs are much better written than the pudpumpers?
"...proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free..." Where is that?

Shoes for Industry

[MapleStreet]

But let us not forget how Reagan corrupted the rather morose song to be a declaration of pride in America no matter what

I'm Boooorn in the U S Ay ay ayyyyy
I'm Booorn in the U S ay ay ayyyyy

(And if you haven't seen it, check out a copy of the movie "Canadian Bacon" and watch then trying to sing it.)

[pansypoo]

too late, you guys still look stupid.

[cosmosis]

Who will Sean Insanity turn to now?

[K. Ron Silkwood]

Fuck Toby Keith.

[Petrushka]

Why is it alright to label everyone from the South as being inbred, ignorant hicks? As a Tennessean, I am really tired of the stereotyping. I expected much more from you guys at First-Draft!

There are plenty of us Southerners who are educated, politically active and leftist. Think before you paint us all with such a brush!