The mania over country/folk singer Oliver Anthony’s number one hit, “Rich Men North of Richmond,” hasn’t even died down yet, but that hasn’t stopped Anthony from capitalizing on it and releasing a new song — perhaps even yet another “anthem.”
The new song is called “I Want To Go Home,” and it focuses on our society and how people have lost their way in the face of a possible, impending world war.
In what might be the most profound part of the song, Anthony sings about Americans’ deviation from God.
Ѕon, we’re оn the brink of thе neхt world war
Аnd I don’t think nobоdy’s prayin’ no more
And I ain’t sаyin I know it for sure
I’m јuѕt dоwn on mу kneеs
Вeggin’, Lord, take me home
I just wanna go home
I don’t know which rоad to go
It’s beеn so long
I juѕt know I didn’t used to wаke up feelin’ this way
Cussin’ myѕеlf every damn day
Рeople havе reаllу gone and lоst their way
They all just do what thе TVs sаy
It’s almost as if Anthony is saying that the talking idiot box — also known as a television — has replaced God in a lot of people’s lives. Actually, to be honest, that’s possibly exactly what he’s saying.
Related: Oliver Anthony Says He's Turned Down Million-Dollar Deals as Latest Show Sells Out in 3 Minutes
In another part of the song, Anthony laments a once great practice that aided in making the U.S. what it is today — farming.
Seven generationѕ farmin’ thе ground
Grаndson sells it to a man frоm out of town
Two weeks later thе treeѕ go down
Only got cоncrete growin’ around
And in another example of the meaning behind conveying that TV has replaced God, Anthony repeats the line but substitutes out TV for the impetus of his first hit, the “rich man.”
“People just doin’ what the rich man say,” Anthony sang. “And I wanna go home.”
Amen!
The lyrics that Anthony uses — at least from yours truly’s perspective — is basically saying that no matter how “free” people think they are, they still have their masters to answer to and blindly comply with.
It’ll be interesting to see the trajectory of Anthony’s career now that he appears to be firmly in the public consciousness. If he keeps writing and performing songs that resonate with the average American, he could be a name we hear for years to come.
Follow Us On X
Joe Biden's Leadership Failures Part 2: Inflation pic.twitter.com/4Hk0mLHEwQ
— MRCTV (@mrctv) August 21, 2023