Lyrics:
https://genius.com/Oliver-anthony-rich-men-north-of-richmond-lyrics
[Verse 1] I’ve been sellin’ my soul, workin’ all day Overtime hours for bulls*** pay So I can sit out here and waste my life away Drag back home and drown my troubles away
[Pre-Chorus] It’s a damn shame what the world’s gotten to For people like me and people like you Wish I could just wake up and it not be true But it is, oh, it is
[Chorus] Livin’ in the new world With an old soul These rich men north of Richmond Lord knows they all just wanna have total control Wanna know what you think, wanna know what you do And they don’t think you know, but I know that you do 'Cause your dollar ain’t s*** and it’s taxed to no end 'Cause of rich men north of Richmond
[Verse 2] I wish politicians would look out for miners And not just minors on an island somewhere Lord, we got folks in the street, ain’t got nothin’ to eat And the obese milkin’ welfare
[Verse 3] Well, God, if you’re five-foot-three and you’re three-hundred pounds Taxes ought not to pay for your bags of fudge rounds Young men are puttin’ themselves six feet in the ground ‘Cause all this damn country does is keep on kickin’ them down
[Pre-Chorus] Lord, it’s a damn shame what the world’s gotten to For people like me and people like you Wish I could just wake up and it not be true But it is, oh, it is
[Chorus] Livin’ in the new world With an old soul These rich men north of Richmond Lord knows they all just wanna have total control Wanna know what you think, wanna know what you do And they don’t think you know, but I know that you do 'Cause your dollar ain’t s*** and it’s taxed to no end 'Cause of rich men north of Richmond
[Outro] I’ve been sellin’ my soul, workin’ all day Overtime hours for bulls*** pay
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Dude complains about welfare and fat people, the song lacks class solidarity. I understand why people like it, but I still think his lyrics miss the mark.
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That’s a symptom, not the cause. The anger is misdirected.
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I’m going to start using "they never leave their echo chamber " when people criticize rap music, video games, movies, books, gender, history, teachers, science, medicine, electric vehicles, immigration, grifting, etc.
I can see how the jabs at vices of sloth and gluttony might trigger those who struggle with such sins, however I think in the balance he was venting frustrations that are broadly bipartisan about poor wage rates and political leaders who may be failing the average person
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voluntary socialism if you want to look at it that was isn’t necessarily the issue (taking handouts people want to give privately), welfare is forcible socialism through taxes and government coercion - it’s a different thing
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What examples of Jesus are coming to mind for you
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Ok, and what we’re saying is in none of those passages is Jesus saying to force people to hand over money using the government so that people can collect it in welfare; the difference between a nonprofit or giving someone who is homeless on the street $20, versus a government agency fining someone and forcing them to be taxed for whatever purpose the government may see fit
However, that is not to say Christians may not advocate for such a view (for government welfare), I would simply state it is not the “Christian position” that Jesus is positively requiring something like government welfare to exist
superfluous wealth (beyond one’s needs) is morally the possession of the poor, in the theological tradition (although not one that is much talked about?) - hence you might advocate for wealthy people to give charitably under pain of present or future punishment by God (unless they feel they should retain such funds for some reason - some may need less than others, and some wealth is capital, like if a person owns a boat they can’t break up the boat to feed people)
Care for the poor is a positive virtue, but welfare is simply forcing taxpayers to pay, and allows people to indiscriminately collect; it’s not particularly moral or immoral, it’s kind of amoral in a way (when abused, immoral?)
Thank you for this conversation, I think it is an important one to continue (I may be out for a bit, I could try to further elaborate on different passages if requested. Whether government or corporations or individuals are in charge of doing certain things, I do agree we should care for the poor for sure and would enjoy seeing more discussion of how to meet the needs of those in most need when possible)
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Blame the corporation making and marketing crappy food, not the person addicted to eating it
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a lot of people oscillate in their arguments, like they wouldn’t say it’s ok a guy assaulted a woman just because she was wearing inappropriate clothing? but here personal responsibility for avoiding unhealthy food is not promoted?
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You kind of sound like you’re arguing against yourself with your analogy. There is a at a minimum a degree of victim blaming when it comes to shaming people who are overweight. Food deserts exist, as does a massive marketing machine that promotes unhealthy food nonstop. Add the addiction aspect and no, I don’t assume someone is overweight solely because they lack conviction.
Could perhaps a charitable interpretation of the song be that there are some people on welfare who could work but choose not to (sloth) and choose to eat excessively when they could choose otherwise (gluttony), and that the musician is complaining about these specific people, and not people who may simply be overweight due to poisoning or unemployed due to bad luck?
You know, fuck this guy.
He’s basically just shouting into a microphone, barely on key. I’m getting kinda tired of seeing his face.
Billy Bragg responded and kinda fixed it.
