• SCB@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      7
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      The song is not about “rich men” in general but about politicians in Washington DC. Those are, specifically, the “rich men north of Richmond” he is discussing.

      His claim is not that business owners pay too little, but that the government is taking too much, and giving it to welfare queens.

      You may want to consider reading the actual lyrics.

        • SCB@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          8
          ·
          edit-2
          1 year ago

          He mentions politicians every time the chorus comes around. That is what “rich men north of Richmond” means. That’s why he isn’t calling out wealthy people south of Richmond. DC is north of Richmond.

          I can’t tell you why the song is popular, but I can definitely parse the meaning of the lyrics, which you seem to be struggling with.

          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 shit and it’s taxed to no end

          Cause of rich men north of Richmond

          This is explicitly about politicians. The entire song is.

          The only other lyrics with any content are

          Well, God, if you’re 5-foot-3 and you’re 300 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

          Lambasting “welfare queens” and taxes.

          Needless to say, this song isn’t popular with me, because I am capable of understanding both the lyrics and how taxes and welfare work within the context of the economy.

          At no point does he decry wealthy business owners or anything of the sort, which sort of takes away from your “any political leanings” argument. This is very explicitly one political leaning, and from a person who isn’t very knowledgeable.