See a whole lot of hate for country music coming from this side of the internet and I have to say a whole lot of it is bullshit. Now don’t get me wrong are there country songs that suck? Hell yes there is. Is there something going on with the producers and the message they’re wanting to send across middle America and the South, I have no doubt those dudes are evil as fuck. But at the same time like with many things there is plenty of good out there if you look. Good songs with good messages. Are they common? Not very but they’re still there and for a guy like me who loves country music I am always keeping my “ears open” (you know what I mean) for stuff that sounds right with the right message.
Anyways here I’d figured I’d share some good modern country music. Country music, the South, and middle America have a special place in my heart and music that represents those people (are at least attempts to) is something that will always have my support. Is it perfect? Not at all but it is me and people like me, and that means a whole lot, especially in today’s world. Remember love for your brothers should inspire you more than hatred for your enemies. And if you only have enemies and not brothers you’re in for a whole lot of trouble down the road. But let’s get to the music
Brantley Gilbert - The Ones That Know Me
Alright so what do we have here? Brantley Gilbert who is my favorite country singer puts out some damn good testosterone filled music, not everything he puts out but a decent portion. In this song we have Brantley singing about his tribe, blood, and community. One of my favorite lines is “Guys like me you want in an ally with ya”. And the chorus is good too. “Speak my mind don’t mind who’s listening, ask forgiveness before I ask permission” another good line. The bikes are a nice touch as well.
Do you have brothers who love you? Even if the average person hates you? Do you have guys who would want you in an ally with them? Are you someone who could hold their own in an ally? And so on and so forth. Brantley talks about living life as he sees fit with his brothers and letting the world think what it will as he says “And I do know who I am”. Brantley’s good a lot of good shit suggest you check him out if you haven’t.
Whiskey Myers - Ballad Of A Southern Man
You won’t find this played on most country radio stations and that’s a shame because it’s another great song. This song came out sometime around 2011 (at least that’s when the music video was uploaded) so is certainly “modern” country. Like I said above one of the things that I love most about country songs is about the deep roots, blood, and tribe. The first line of the song “My first rifle was a .243 that pappa gave to daddy and daddy gave to me” we already have blood, heritage, ancestry, and the passing of something from the elder to the younger so that the ways and strength of the tribe or clan can live on.
Let’s look at some other lyrics and there are some great ones in this song. “I was raised in this land, I guess that’s something you don’t understand” with the atomized “individualist” drones we have today this is something most unfortunately do not understand, to have deep ties to something is beyond their comprehension. “They’ll grind us up in a big machine; they’ll feed us all the same beliefs. Holy dollar and a credit card…they want to tear it all apart” another great line. And finally “I can’t change my ways I know who I am” the line that makes the modern world shake. When someone knows who they are and who they’re with they’ll fight for those things which is why as long as people stay individuals and not members of a tribe there will never be any threat to the modern order.
Tyler Farr - Damn Good Friends
A lone wolf is a dead and exploited wolf. Everyone should strive to be the toughest and baddest that they can but at the same time realize that without “damn good friends” you ain’t gonna go very far in this life. So here we have a song about close friends, men who’d have your back in a fight and stand by your side no matter what. As the song says “you count them all on one of your hands” meaning that this group is a tight knit group. That these are brothers not just friends or acquaintances. The second part of the song is my favorite talking about the girl and her ex.
A great line in that little exchange. To give you the gist (just listen to the song) it talks about talking with some girl when her giant of an ex shows up and starts trouble with you. As the song goes “He’s a big ol jacked up SOB, that’s alright he’s about to meet your friends…a few second later he’s starting to see it ain’t one on one it’s one on three”. Anyways overall a great song about brotherhood, tribe, and having close friends.
Jason Aldean - The Only Way I Know
Part of me likes this song just because I can relate to it. This song does a great job of describing the country “ethos” to an extent. For example “You get tired and you don’t show, dig a little deeper when you think you can’t dig no more. That’s the only way I know. That old red dirt road the first thing you learn is that you don’t get nothing you don’t earn”. I remember young complaining once while doing yard work and getting set straight about it really quick. The phrase “You don’t get nothing you don’t earn” really stood out and is something a lot of people would try to forget or deny.
Another great line is “Hit the wall smoking and spinning, still wasn’t thinking bout nothing but winning” reminds me of the ethos my father instilled in me. No matter the pain, frustration, set back, don’t give up, and keep your eyes on the prize. You’d be amazed what you can accomplish when you have an attitude like this. Also as I’ve said elsewhere winning should be sacred to you and you should absolutely positively hate losing with a passion. Everyone fails but there’s a difference between failing and getting back up and being okay with losing. One is simply life the other is weakness of the worst kind.
Luke Bryan - Huntin’, Fishin’, And Lovin’ Every Day
Got another good one here. Not much deep philosophical musings to it or anything of that nature but still a great song. Describes quite an ideal life in many ways at least for me. Honestly when I hear a lot of guys complaining about the place where they live whining about this or that I think “You know a good 50% of your problems would be solved by moving to the country” sure that won’t solve everything but from the way they talk that would solve more than a few. Why be around people you hate when you can be around people like you?
Like the song says “So while y’all are up there. Breathing in that old dirty air, I’ll be down here, knee deep, in the Muckalee”. Now you may say “I can’t afford to move” but that’s just an excuse with today’s technology and the information available anyone can learn to make enough to live where they want that isn’t some super expensive city. Sure you may have to take a minor pay cut and sure it may not work out for a couple years but hey if you really don’t like where you’re at it’ll be worth it in the long run. Any way just another good song.
Country Music
And there’s plenty more out there just thought I’d throw my two cents in here. Now I’m well aware that there are plenty of issues with much of country music as well as middle America and the South. But there are some things that they do get right. Tribe, blood, men being men and women being women, sure these things are under attack but these areas have so far had better resistant to the attacks then others because of the importance of tribe and blood to these people. People like me. Hope you enjoyed.
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-Charles Sledge
