Conservatives & Independents Can Be Great Songwriters Too
There is no doubt that by any objective assessment, when it comes to the world of creative types, whether it’s in the realm of music or otherwise, their ranks tend to veer more towards liberal ideals when it comes to politics. Chalk it up to the right brain paradigm, or an element of peer pressure within those communities and industries to present a more progressive mindset or be isolated or even ostracized, this tends to be the way the world is ordered.
But that assessment in no way excludes the gift of creativity from people who happen to be more conservative or independent of mindset. You can be for lesser government, self-reliance, be religious or patriotic, or believe self-determination should be the at the root of people’s lives, or just think that politics is a bunch of nonsense that has unnecessarily polarized society while still being a force of creativity in the world, and still write great songs.
This appeared to be called into question recently by the current King of Americana music, Jason Isbell, when he snapped back at a commenter who claimed liking Isbell’s music but said Isbell’s progressive politics “blow ass.” Isbell’s response was, “If it ever gets to be too much for you, there are a lot of great songwriters out there who agree with you politically. Oh wait, no there aren’t.”
Though this line has been interpreted different way by different people, it at the least seems to call into question the prevalence or ability for songwriters who happen to be conservative or Republican to write a “great” song.
But this just isn’t the case, and not even close. Though many of Jason Isbell’s supporters wholeheartedly agreed with his assessment, saying anyone who would consider themselves conservative is incapable of the empathy or insight that it takes to compose a good song—while other cited the worst examples of conservative entertainers such as Kid Rock and Ted Nugent—they are all overlooked an incredible canon of music contributed to American culture by songwriters who happen to be conservative, or that don’t espouse a political affiliation at all, something that Jason Isbell also criticized as well in his recent song, “Be Afraid.”
In many ways, this whole discussion is hurtful to the institution in music by politicizing it unnecessarily, and injuring music’s unique ability to bring people together regardless of political affiliation. Also, unlike many liberals, conservatives are less likely to wear their politics on their sleeves, with obvious exceptions of course. Furthermore, just labeling some artists “conservative” these days is taken as a scarlet letter by some, with angry ideologues saying that anyone who would even consider veering right is explicity for putting kids in cages, for example.
But just for the sake of argument, find below just a few of many examples of songwriters, and some specific songs too, that come from professed conservatives or that espouse conservative values, and a few from staunch independents, all that severely call into question the idea that there “aren’t” any.
And like it goes for any list, of course it is incomplete, and it is not invalidated simply because someone is on it, or someone else is left off, so please understand this while reading. It’s simply an illustration that yes, people who lean right can be quality songwriters too.
And just for the record, the whole reason this is of such concern is that the music of Americana is at a crossroads at the moment. If creators are going to be admonished for not being progressive, and not broaching political subjects in their songs, it is going to limit the talent pool Americana has to draw from, and repel many creative types, while others may feel pressure to get progressive with their music even if they’re not comfortable with it in order to curry favor for awards, for Americana radio play, touring opportunities, media coverage, or other benefits.
Jamey Johnson
If you want an example of a conservative who is also an award-winning and well-respected songwriter, the line might form behind Jamey Johnson. Though his output has virtually ceased over the last few years, he still remains one of the most decorated and revered songwriters of our time. Jamey Johnson won both the CMA and ACM Song of the Year for in 2007 for his original composition “Give It Away.” In 2009, Johnson won the CMA Song of the Year again for “In Color.” Jamey Johnson has also been nominated for 9 Grammy Awards in his career, and has written songs for Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, George Strait, Joe Nichols, and many others.
Furthermore, many of Jamey Johnson’s songs deal with what would be considered conservative themes, including the reflective “In Color,” and the cautionary tale, “High Cost of Living.”
The retired Marine corporal doesn’t keep a very active social media profile, but has let his politics be known on multiple occasions, and in pretty high-profile ways. In 2017, Johnson canceled a show after he refused to walk through a metal detector at a venue. Also in 2017, Johnson criticized people at a festival for what he characterized as denigrating the American flag.
Sunny Sweeney
Sunny Sweeney is not boisterous about her political views, but doesn’t shy away from them either. She made light of her political differences with friend and fellow songwriter Brennen Leigh in the song “But You Like Country Music” released in 2015 about a couple of politically diametrical friends who find common ground from their love of country.
A highly-revered songwriter who was once signed to Big Machine Records and was nominated for the ACM Top New Female Artist in 2013, Sunny Sweeney’s 2017 record Trophy received lots of critical acclaim. Speaking to the quality of her songs, “Bottle By My Bed” from Trophy won Saving Country Music’s 2017 Song of the Year.
Alan Jackson
After 9/11 is when the worst of the jingoistic mainstream country music came about, and established it in the minds of many as what modern country music was, primarily due to the success of Toby Keith, and the blackballing of The Dixie Chicks. But even though Toby Keith won the decade after 9/11 with albums sold and touring purses, it was Alan Jackson that emerged with a career resurgence with class, and on the back of songs that spoke to something much deeper than threats and revenge.
It wasn’t Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American)” that won the CMA Song of the Year in 2002, it was Alan Jackson’s “Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning).” In fact to many pontificators at the time, a vote for Alan Jackson was a vote against Toby Keith. Alan Jackson ended up winning the CMA Entertainer of the Year in 2002 and 2003 as well, partly off the strength of the song. “Where Were You” was also nominated for the Grammy for Best Country Song in 2002.
But Alan Jackson’s songwriting contributions go much deeper than that. It’s easy to pick on some of his songs like “Chattahoochee,” but so many of his 35 #1 singles personify quality country songwriting, and most all of them emanate from the pen of Alan Jackson himself—something he rarely gets credit for when arguing for his legacy. The Country Music Hall of Famer has been one of the most successful and prolific songwriters in country music history.
Chris Knight
Chris Knight is one of the most revered songwriters of our generation, up there with Jason Isbell, John Moreland, or whomever else you might want to name off. Songs of his have been recorded by the likes of Randy Travis, Lee Ann Womack, Montgomery Gentry, Wade Bowen, and others. Knight has never publicly professed a political alignment. In fact if there was any it might be more anti-political than positively conservative. But his music veers very political in the way his characters develop, and the situations they find themselves in. The conservative maxims of pulling your own weight, and getting by with what you have and being thankful come up regularly in his music, as does the struggles of life.
As Saving Country Music determined with his 2012 record Little Victories, while declaring it, “A Political Album Done Right” during the height of a previous Presidential election:
This album presents a challenge. Are you going to sit there and take the easy way out by framing your life in the form of a negative thought? Or are you going to be awed by the amazing riches afforded to the modern American no matter how poor they are and be thankful? Are you going to make an excuse, or are you going to make a plan?
And like only Chris Knight can, brunt force diatribes are abandoned in favor of building believable characters out of the ruins of America’s rural landscapes, and telling their stories of heartbreak, bad luck, and redemption to make the points. What a refreshing, poignant, timely, and telling message; a hot dagger in the heart of the wicked polarization that grips our country and divides our purpose; the antidote to the depression of the apolitical person in the height of the political season.
In 2019, Chris Knight arguably did himself one better on his new album, Almost Daylight. As Saving Country Music declared, “An entire catalog of self-help material can’t help motivate and embolden your worn down spirit as much as the message in his song ‘Go On.’ This hole we’ve dug for ourselves with all this left and right stuff is so deep we can’t even see over the edge to the eternal truths of life, but Chris Knight’s ‘The Damn Truth’ brings it all back into perspective for everyone.”
Travis Tritt
Travis Tritt is a strongly expressed conservative, though similar to John Rich, he’s been caught saying artists shouldn’t get political while doing it himself (and got called out on Twitter by Jason Isbell personally for it). You also may point to Travis Tritt’s mullet years and his “Put Some Drive In Your Country” and “T-R-O-U-B-L-E” era and declare he’s got little to offer in the songwriting realm. But 90’s country fans know differently.
Since the topic at hand is songwriting, nothing either embellishes or exposes a songwriter more than putting them on a stool at center stage and seeing if they can compel an entire audience of people with just a microphone and an acoustic guitar. With an arsenal of quality songs, and in this intimate setting is where Travis Tritt has thrived for years, with many fans on both sides of the political aisle in agreement about this. Singing #1 songs that he wrote such as “Help Me Hold On” and “Can I Trust My Heart,” Travis Tritt can definitely move people as good as any.
Larry Gatlin
Larry Gatlin can’t wait to tell you about his right-leaning politics at nearly every turn or opportunity, yet writing off his contributions as a songwriter in both the country and Gospel realms would be a disgrace to the medium. Throughout the 70’s and into the 80’s, there were few as good. “All the Gold in California,” “Houston (Means I’m One Day Closer to You), “She Used to Be Somebody’s Baby,” “Talkin’ to the Moon,” and so many more from there speak to his prowess as a creative type, who is also revered by many of his peers regardless of their political stripes. If you want an A1 example of a strongly-professed conservative who can still write excellent songs, Larry Galtin might be your mark.
Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn’s song “The Pill” is the go-to example in progressive think pieces about how country music is and has always been more liberal than it’s portrayed, mostly because the people writing these articles don’t know anything about country music, and are cheating off each other’s papers for a lack of right answers. But the problem with this assessment is that women’s rights are not just the ownership of the left. In fact that is what Loretta Lynn makes a better example of as opposed to progressivism in country.
In the last Presidential election, it wasn’t Toby Keith, Larry Gatlin, John Rich, Lee Greenwood, or anyone else stumping for Donald Trump the hardest. It was Loretta Lynn. Her concerts during the election season were nothing short of political rallies not just for the Republican ticket, but for Trump specifically, including having voters registration volunteers on site at her shows, and giving long-winded speeches about why people should vote for Trump before and during performances. And of course, all of this is happening while 20-something journalists were writing think pieces about how country fans should vote Democrat due to Loretta Lynn, completely blind to what was happening in the real world.
Lynn told Rolling Stone in 2017, “I think they ought to leave [Trump] alone and let him do his job. That’s what I think. He’s up there and he’s the president. They need to help him, not hinder him. Everybody ought to pitch in and help, do everything they can to help the man.”
Loretta’s love for conservative ideals is nothing new. Though she’s always been a strong voice for women, she’s also been a strong voice for the right, which despite the characterization of some, are not mutually exclusive. And of course, Loretta Lynn is one of the greatest songwriters in history.
Hank Williams Jr.
Similar to Travis Tritt, a shallow gander at the discography of Hank Williams Jr. might leave one determining that all he was good for was boisterous country boy odes that don’t contribute much of anything to the canon of songwriting. But if you don’t think songs like “Country Boy Can Survive” or “Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound” don’t exhibit strong songwriting, you might be biased, politically or otherwise.
Meanwhile, those who’ve studied the back catalog of Bocephus know that each of his records is good for a few very well-written and more deep, heartfelt songs. If you can’t hear the emotion in his song “All In Alabama” about his fall of Ajax Mountain and identify it as good songwriting, then you’re unfit to judge.
Tracy Lawrence
If you’re looking for an example of contemporary conservative songwriting that isn’t full of patronizing cliches and pandering to a red meat base, and hits all the top tenets commonly tied to of quality songwriting, a good place to start is Tracy Lawrence’s 2019 record Made in America. Making the case for personal responsibility and self-reliance without coming across as judgemental or accusatory, it was a surprisingly well-written late career record, with Lawrence writing most of the songs himself.
Made in America does everything right that many of the post 9/11 flag-waving and sabre-ratting songs and albums did wrong. Tracy Lawrence is also a good example of someone from the country music community that spends a lopsided amount of his time volunteering his time now that his career requirements have diminished. With his annual turkey fry at Thanksgiving in Nashville going on for 14 straight years benefiting the Nashville Rescue Mission and many other events and contributions over the year, he puts his time and money behind his message of helping others.
Toby Keith
Yes, even the poster boy for so much blowhard, jingoistic country music has plenty of excellently-written songs. A registered Democrat when he wrote and recorded “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American),” it went on to define his career in a negative light for many. But similar to Alan Jackson, Toby Keith is a performer who pens the majority of his own material. Chalk it up to a blind squirrel finding a nut every once in a while if you must, but going through the Toby Keith catalog, there are quite a few quality songs when taking an objective ear to them.
Case in point is the one of the most recent songs that Toby Keith has released. Written for the soundtrack of the 2018 Clint Eastwood film The Mule, Toby Keith’s “Don’t Let The Old Man In” illustrates how even the most sullied of songwriters can turn in a gem when they put their effort in that direction. “Don’t Let The Old Man In” is just a good song, regardless of who is singing or wrote it.
John Rich – “Shuttin’ Detroit Down.”
Though John Rich in many instances has symbolized the worst of braggadocios, bordering on jingoistic sentiment in American country music, and was deservedly called a hypocrite here at Saving Country Music for his song “Shut Up About Politics,” that doesn’t limit his ability to write a great song. In fact he’s responsible for arguably one of the best conservative-oriented, yet universally-resonant politically-tinged country songs in the last 20 years. “Shuttin’ Detroit Down” espouses conservative ideals of self-reliance, but also takes the populist view against the government bailing out big banks and the auto industry while rich executives pull golden parachutes.
The song is a great example of not just a conservative writing a great song, but a how a song written from a conservative perspective can be appreciated by everyone. Well-known progressive Kris Kristofferson starred in the video for the song, while The New York Times praised “Shuttin’ Detroit Down,” saying it “…reflects not only Mr. Rich’s songwriting gifts, but also his acumen in gauging and channeling the mood of the country, aggressively striking a note of conservative populism rarely seen in any genre of pop since country music’s response to September 11th.”
Merle Haggard & Charlie Daniels
Both of these Country Music Hall of Famers make tough examples because they both weeble wobbled in their careers when it came to their political alignment, but it’s probably important they’re both mentioned.
Merle Haggard most definitely started his career to the right of the political spectrum with songs like “Fightin’ Side of Me,” and even into 1990 with the song “Me and Crippled Soldiers Give A Damn,” which was about showing respect to the American flag and The United States. Haggard built his entire career off of offering a voice to the Silent Majority in America, and did it so well, he earned respect from many of his more progressive peers. The Grateful Dead covering “Mama Tried” speaks to the kind of influence early Merle Haggard’s songwriting had in music.
But of course later Haggard seemed to lean more left, including revising that “Okie From Muskogee” was written in irony (though at other times backtracking from that). Either way, the political alignment of his early career is undeniable, as is the amazing mark he left on songwriting.
The story of Charlie Daniels is crisscrossed. He started out fiercely progressive, evidenced by his song “Uneasy Rider.” Now, Daniels might symbolize the worst in jingoistic attitudes succumbed to political propaganda on the right. Nonetheless, his talent as a songwriter is revered universally.
More Notable Conservative/Independent Songwriters:
- Billy Joe Shaver is pretty pronounced upon his feelings on politics and religion, and penned an entire record of songs for Waylon Jennings.
- Ronnie Dunn -Part member of Brooks and Dunn who had a hand in writing many of their hits, he also released a song in 2011 called “Bleed Red” that might be the perfect antidote to political rancor.
- Aaron Watson – A family man who wears his faith on his sleeve and isn’t afraid to wax while playing at family-friendly dancehalls and on the rodeo circuit, he also has a big following among the Hispanic population, and paid tribute to them in his album Vaquero.
- The Oak Ridge Boys, Bill Anderson, John Anderson, Maddie Marlow of Maddie & Tae, and many others have let certain political beliefs be known, and are also responsible for an impressive list of songs.
February 20, 2020 @ 1:04 pm
for as much as you bemoan politics being present in music, you sure do seem to post about it and bring attention to it a lot lately… stirring the pot for clicks?
February 20, 2020 @ 1:17 pm
This list was DEMANDED of me by dozens of people, including artists, including blue-checkmarked journalists, including Chris Willman at Variety, many of which said this list was un-populate-able, that I couldn’t even come up with five quality songwriters who are conservative. This is an answer to that ridiculous, and bigoted claim. If you don’t like it, DON’T READ IT.
I don’t write about politics in music by choice. This is a battle brought to my doorstep that I won’t back down from. This, along with my other recent posts is my steadfast pushing back upon the politicization of music, and specifically Jason Isbell, who called into question the value and quality of music if it doesn’t carry a progressive message. And no, it’s not getting that many clicks. I’m losing readers. But it’s a fight worth fighting.
February 20, 2020 @ 1:30 pm
i think the mistake you’re making is that it isn’t a battle worth fighting. politics have been in music for as long as it’s been recorded and beyond and some of the greatest songs are political. artists should’t have to censor themselves because you don’t like hearing about it or because you don’t agree with it. if you don’t like it, DON’t LISTEN TO IT.
February 20, 2020 @ 1:47 pm
“artists should’t have to censor themselves because you don’t like hearing about it”
I agree. But neither should fans. In fact, it’s probably more dependent on people in the public eye who have hundreds of thousands of followers on social media to take heat as a side effect of stardom than it is for average joe commenters to get bullied into submission.
Here is a comment that the original Twitter poster that Jason Isbell was responding to just left on Facebook.
“I am the one who made that comment. He said that crap to me and his “fans” proceeded to attack me for hours they tried to hack my account no less than 6 times then they sent me hundreds of follow request jamming up my feed and making it damn near unusable.”
Jason Isbell has to deal with some snark. This dude had folks trying to ruin his life. Tell me the moral equivalency here?
February 20, 2020 @ 2:08 pm
i don’t see how most of that even approaches being relevant to what i said.
i didn’t say that you can’t have your opinion or make it known, i just think it’s ironic that you don’t think politics should be in present music while putting a political emphasis and commentary on the said music – a topic that has spread across three articles so far. i also think it’s a very interesting, perhaps futile, hill to choose to die on considering politics being present in music for (possibly) forever.
i never once said this individual should be bullied. i never even brought them up. that said, i feel as if i should now. if you say something, put it into the ether, people have a right to “at” you… it’s twitter. the hacking is inexcusable, but the rest? they told a stranger that they “blow ass” and are now upset that “he said that crap to me”… lol. can dish it, but can’t take it.
February 20, 2020 @ 3:23 pm
Isbell made a joke, and to a fan who came to make an unsolicited comment about how he didn’t like Isbell’s politics. I don’t have any problem with your list, and love plenty of the artists on it, but I hope you won’t continue looking for offense and grievance in every word spoken (or tweeted) by people who have different political opinions than you. That is very fucking boring.
February 20, 2020 @ 4:32 pm
This is something that shouldn’t be overlooked by anyone on any side of the aisle. The silencing of dissenting opinions by use of force, and the ripple effects that can cause should be alarming to everyone. Some people are saying Trigger is overblowing this. Bullshit. This leads to a very dark place. If Jason has any integrity or spine he will call out the people that tried to forcibly silence this person.
Many people have thought they were safe from the outrage mob, only to have it turn on them. Even if you agree with someone’s politics, you shouldn’t look the other way when this happens
February 20, 2020 @ 2:12 pm
I’m thrilled you compiled this list! Since the Isbell post, I’ve been working on a list very similar to yours. I learned the great artists despite their core beliefs cross political lines. Similar to Loretta Lynn writing about progressive themes , Steve Earle and Willie Nelson (as liberal as they get) wrote some of the best blue collar songs for the conservative crowd. We just never noticed because we have never been more politically divided.
Great work!
February 21, 2020 @ 7:44 am
Please don’t put yourself up for a sainthood. Nobody but yourself asked you to challenge Isbell. In fact his remarks would have gone largely unknown bit for your ego. And the songwriters you put forward as being great are not in the same league as Isbell. I agree that the remarks made by Isbell are largely provocative but had they been ignored by idiots like you we would never have known of them. Being from Ireland I wonder what Bono would say.
February 21, 2020 @ 8:55 am
Paddy,
Did I ask for sainthood? I was just explaining this article has done more harm to my reputation than good. If you think I’m a turd, revel in that.
This was simply a list presenting the contributions of conservative songwriters. It wasn’t meant to present them as “better” than Jason Isbell. Part of the problem with this conversation is so many are taking it as competition. Less discuss this important matter, as opposed to trying to one up each other and slinging accusations and trying to destory each others character.
I would tend to agree. Jason Isbell probably is a better songwriter than most, or all the songwriters on this list. The point of the list was to illustrate conservatives could still be good songwriters.
February 21, 2020 @ 9:09 am
You did see Billy Joe Shaver listed, right?
February 21, 2020 @ 9:13 am
I think that’s a pretty harsh generalization that none of these artists are in the same league as Isbell.. Absolutely respect your right to that opinion but Merle Haggard? Try listening to Momma’s Hungry Eyes or Holding Things Together.
I won’t argue that Isbell may be above some of these song writers in terms of sheer talent but I think there are plenty of world class song writers in the above list that absolutely give Isbell a run for his money, if not surpass his songwriting skills. YMMV
February 21, 2020 @ 9:46 am
Yes I agree that some of those artists are great songwriters however Isbell is being openly political in his writings. Merle is a great songwriter with a host of great songs to his credit. I would argue that he was not political or even inclined towards the right. Certainly Isbell songs are a bit to the left. Again I think his remarks are being taken out of touch. As for Trigger saying he did not put himself up for sainthood, he need not worry.
February 21, 2020 @ 9:14 am
I’m listening to Billy Joe Shaver
And I’m reading James Joyce
Some people they tell me
I’ve got the blood of the land in my voice
— From “I Feel a Change Comin’ On” by Bob Dylan
February 21, 2020 @ 6:41 pm
Paddy seems triggered (no pun intended).
February 22, 2020 @ 7:35 am
Are you really from Ireland, Paddy? I mean, are there people there actually walking around asking WWBS? Even in Dublin?
February 22, 2020 @ 8:18 am
Yes, really. What they do in Dublin I have no idea. I am from Belfast. Like comparing New York/LA.
February 22, 2020 @ 8:49 am
I know the boys are from Dublin, which is why I mention it. With my exposure to Irish people (family, mostly), I could see the question being asked ironically, or maybe something like “Ah sure, Bono would the one to know about that.”
February 21, 2020 @ 10:39 am
Wow – seriously? I’ve never seen the connection between political leanings and creativity. Either you’re creative or you’re not. It’s the same with an author forum I sometimes browse. No conservatives welcome. Conservatives can’t write! Why would they even think they could?? I’m an independent songwriter and I’ve written a couple of awesome songs, if I do say so myself (not that the masses will ever hear them). This kind of closed-mindedness really sets me off.
February 21, 2020 @ 1:24 pm
Progressives are bound and determined to see you as a conservative because that’s just how progressives are. Most of us aren’t that conservative at all, we just think progressives are insufferable and don’t trust them. They are sore losers but if you really want to see progressives get sore, you oughta see them win. Most Americans support progressive ideals, Trump himself and a lot of his supporters have moved the Republican party to the left. The religious right is a non-factor, America is nearly completely secular now and the less a voter went to church the more likely they were to vote for Trump instead of Cruz or Carson. Culturally influential progressives like Isbell seam to think they have the power to draw fences and dictate who belongs inside those spaces. Do you have blood on your hands from all the school shootings you’re responsible for because you own a gun or have friends that hunt? Maybe your daddy barely paid the bills with all the gettin rich from raping our forests as part of the dying (but not fast enough) Oregon timber industry? Rest assured, progressives will find a reason why your soul should be thrown in the lake of fire by Saint Hillary. I’d rather let the progressives draw that fence in tighter around themselves and stop trying to convince them that we’re “not conservative”.
August 26, 2021 @ 8:50 pm
Liberals, Progressives and any leftist is nothing but garbage. I don’t care how great the artist or songs is if it doesn’t have a true meaning with some sort of moral compass to it. Anyone can sing about lies, money and bitches. The difference between a liberal and conservative is conservatives think liberals are people with bad ideas and liberals think conservatives are bad people with ideas. If you have to live in a hive and always go with everyone else’s narrative and can’t think for yourself you’re a lost cause and have no sense of purpose. Think for yourself, make your own decisions, come up with your own conclusions and don’t give a dam what others think and you will be truly free.
February 20, 2020 @ 4:35 pm
Politics always reduces music to the level of a slogan. Artists who do that are bores, and they cheapen art by doing it.
It’s like the religious nut who uses every occasion as an opportunity to prosyletize. For many people, particularly on the Left, politics has become their religion.
Isbell is a tool who wants everyone to become a tool, too. Sorry Charlie, the rest of us have moved beyond wanting to be hammers and sickles.
February 20, 2020 @ 4:40 pm
yeah artists like bob dylan, neil young, the beatles, johnny cash, willie nelson, the byrds, et al. (do i really have to go on?) are total bores. you nailed it.
February 20, 2020 @ 6:56 pm
I’m stridently conservative and libertarian, but no longer a GOP type, and I listen to the artists you named all the time
Jason isn’t in their league
Nor are our current times remotely similar to the era of the Vietnam war
I like artists of all political stripes, just not ones who are flagrant AH’s
February 20, 2020 @ 7:26 pm
Jason isnt, nor ever will be as much of a pimple on the ass of any of those artists, even though he thinks he is.
February 20, 2020 @ 9:45 pm
i didn’t say they weren’t. the guy said “artists who do that are bores can and they cheapen art”. but ok. nailed the reading comprehension like everyone else.
February 21, 2020 @ 5:32 am
Agreed… If I wanted politics I would read CNN or some crap.. stop falling into the media take over that says politics if everything these days.. it is not.
February 27, 2020 @ 10:16 am
There’s so much unnecessary moaning about a single Twitter comment that did not even say what Trigger is pretending it said. The ~offending comment~ was a reply to someone who was being a dick, and Trigger can’t stop being triggered by it.
Half of these people aren’t anywhere near “great songwriters,” and the presumptuousness to know some of their political beliefs is … wild. Talking about the flag and hard work does not in any way make you a conservative. You don’t know most of these people’s beliefs. But lol, keep whining and lying about the original tweet. It’s cute and contradicts how much you pretend that you have any “integrity,” as you claim in the Sturgill article.
February 20, 2020 @ 1:10 pm
This is a bizarre article. Chris Knight talks about hard work and he gets on a list of conservative artists?
February 20, 2020 @ 1:20 pm
Read the story.
QUOTE: “Knight has never publicly professed a political alignment. In fact if there was any it might be more anti-political than positively conservative. But his music veers very political in the way his characters develop, and the situations they find themselves in. The conservative maxims of pulling your own weight, and getting by with what you have and being thankful come up regularly in his music, as does the struggles of life.”
The title of the article is, “Conservatives and Independents Can Be Great Songwriters Too.”
February 20, 2020 @ 1:47 pm
I read the whole article. You admit you don’t know his political leanings yet you chose to feature him in an article about known conservative and independent artists. You could just as easily cherry pick Isbell songs (John henry, dress blues) and point to that as evidence that isbell is conservative.
February 20, 2020 @ 1:53 pm
Well first off, as Jack Williams just confirmed, he’s a conservative. I was airing on the side of caution because I couldn’t confirm it. Nonetheless, I wanted to include Chris Knight here because I think he has numerous songs, especially “The Damn Truth” that deal with the political rancor were amongst at the moment head on. Chris Knight is an important voice in the room we should all be listening to.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:20 pm
It wasn’t any kind of proud in-your-face declaration, either. He said it in a matter-of-fact, casual way. I didn’t think much of it and I’m not a pro-gun Conservative Republican.
May 17, 2020 @ 8:08 am
One “errs” on the side of caution, not “airs.”
February 20, 2020 @ 1:55 pm
Dress Blues as a conservative song? With the reference to somebody’s Hollywood war? A war started by Dubya? Don’t think so. Not to mention The Devil Is My Running Mate being on the same album.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:58 pm
Thinking that only conservatives believe in hard work is horribly flawed. I’m liberal but I’ll put my work ethic up against any of my conservative friends who spent summers at the pool and golf course while I worked on the family farm. The difference with liberals is they realize they may have been the beneficiary of opportunities that others may not have had
February 20, 2020 @ 3:02 pm
I apologize if I implied that. That was not my intent. I’m just saying that a lot of conservative songwriters speak about things like personal responsibility in their songs, while more progressive writers might talk more about societal injustice.
February 20, 2020 @ 3:34 pm
Appreciate that. Just saying that liberals believe in hard work too.
February 21, 2020 @ 8:27 am
Of course, you could say that thinking about social injustice is a way of taking personal responsibility.
February 23, 2020 @ 9:37 am
How sad that Loretta Lynn he was once a rebel would naïvely get along with trumps distraction of America politically and environmentally. I can tellshe is another person who blindly follows without paying attention to reality and science.I wonder if she realizes that trump rolled back the Obama violence against women bill?or the FACT that his admin Also stopped the equal pay for women act? Sounds like a traitor to her gender.Even Hank Junior himself admitted the fake patriots at Fox News goaded him into saying some things and used him as a talking point.I am as patriotic as anyone else. But me and many others doubt the sincerity of the garbage that came out after 911 sucking up to peoples emotions. I simply don’t think it is genuine and that it was a quick way to get money. The truth is the majority of creative smart people are liberal. They have bigger hearts and minds and that is where music comes from my friends.
February 20, 2020 @ 3:11 pm
Right. And some folks with opportunities, who don’t hate their ancestors, realize that their lot in life isn’t some happy accident and their parents and those who came before them bled, sacrificed, and toiled, to give them what they have. Those people feel pride. As much as they’re allowed to, these days.
February 20, 2020 @ 3:47 pm
This is one of the best comments I’ve read on this website. Not everyone that grows up in rural america hates where they grew up, but you wouldn’t know that by listening to the media.
February 20, 2020 @ 10:15 pm
The very meaning of liberal and conservative is in finances, not social justice and telling white people if they’re successful it’s because of their ancestors and/or skin as YOU implied. That’s very nice you’ve gotten your hands dirty every now and then, but it ultimately comes down to blue collar lifers who break their bodies to support a family, while liberal policies would be to take more and more of our wages to give to the “lower class” that have more than me. That’s why it’s assumed only conservatives work hard, because anyone who welds 12 hours a day will be damned before giving money over to free-loaders while barely floating in the bottom middle class ourselves. And yes, there are a ton of free loaders in the lower class. Not all, but far too many because it is incentivized for them to make less money and keep all the benefits
February 21, 2020 @ 2:57 pm
Since I didn’t make myself clear. I’ll explain. I worked many 60 hour weeks from my late 20’s until my late 30’s. Cut down to a 40 hour week just in time for 2 rounds of cancer treatments in 1997 and 2003. Scheduled my chemo on Friday so I could be back at work on Monday. Scheduled daily radiation at 8am so I could be at work at 9. Somehow, I never lost my compassion for others
February 20, 2020 @ 1:32 pm
I saw a video of Chris Knight where while in the process of introducing a song, he casually identified himself as a pro-gun Conservative Republican.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:22 pm
Can we get a link?
February 20, 2020 @ 3:26 pm
Did a quick check. Didn’t see it. Might have been a cellphone video since taken down. And maybe he just said pro-gun Republican.
February 20, 2020 @ 3:15 pm
Interesting, Jack. I saw Chris Knight in Greene Hall about 10 or 12 years ago and his guitarist had a crossed-out W sticker on his guitar. I thought it was bold to use that in central Texas, but nobody gave him a hard time that I could tell. I thought that political display was incongruous with the themes of his songs.
BTW, great show as you can guess. He seemed like a normal guy enjoying a beer next to me and then walked on stage when it was showtime.
February 20, 2020 @ 3:34 pm
Ugh. Gruene. Darn spell check.
February 20, 2020 @ 3:48 pm
I don’t think it’s surprising that his band members would have different views. That’s the thing about the right: we’re actually more tolerant. And it’s not surprising at all that central Texas was cool with that sticker. Austin and surrounding areas are very liberal for the most part.
February 20, 2020 @ 4:56 pm
Gruene or Lockhart always struck me as much more Texas than Austin despite the proximity to Austin. Especially in the dance halls listening to a country show.
February 21, 2020 @ 7:54 am
The right is more tolerant? Are you kidding? I don’t disagree that a lot of leftist “progressives” are jerks who think they know it all and look down on anyone who doesn’t share their political views, but if you consider Trump and his base as representative of the right, their anger at anyone who doesn’t share their political views — or their religion, or their color — is downright scary.
February 21, 2020 @ 10:32 am
” their anger at anyone who doesn’t share their political views — or their religion, or their color — is downright scary.”
You should stop watching MSNBC, Doug. There’s crazies on both sides, and your generalizations about the right are what’s scary.
July 23, 2021 @ 9:52 pm
Being a Trump Conservative and being a supporter of NEOCONs’ like Bush are totally different.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:19 pm
Chris Knights themes are clear as dat conservative… less government/ self governing, distrust in government, unions, land rights, pro gun, regional/state rights vs nationalism, coal mining, farmer’s rights …. that’s just off the top of my head. The only thing not conservative about Knight, is his love for John Prine.
He may not vote for Trump, but he’s the best songwriter for this conservative generation.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:23 pm
The only thing not conservative about Knight, is his love for John Prine.
He’s a Steve Earle fan, too. Also, Jackson Browne. He posted a lits some of his favorite albums on Facebook a while back and they were both represented.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:32 pm
Did you hear Knight on Earle’s Hardcore Troubadour Radio show a few months back? It was a great interview. Jackson Browne did come up. I think that’s cool!
February 20, 2020 @ 3:00 pm
Sounds a lot like most people I know that identify as Libertarians now. I guess Independent was too broad, and they wanted to make sure everyone understood their key values are the Liberties granted by the Constitution.
Not that any of their candidates stand a snow balls chance in Hell in today’s political climate with all the big money donors and the (D/R)NC’s war chest.
February 21, 2020 @ 6:36 am
I think there’s a strong argument for claiming these themes are Libertarian (the party I personally identify with if we can get lobbyists out of government). However, for this exercise I think we need to take a more pragmatic, black or white approach to identifying artists. Isbell’s attack isn’t on any view different than his.
February 21, 2020 @ 7:36 am
I identify as a libertarian- no Party affiliation- the constitution did not “grant” anything. I’ll try to be polite and succinct. It was written as a set of rules to “help prevent” tyrannical rule by the fed gov’t. that anti federalist had the foresight to see would occur (and has because so many Party types don’t know what they’re talking about. Thank you unconstitutional education system)- anything “granted” is a privilege and can be rescinded. Rights (which are not privileges) pre date the constitution and the “Bill of Rights” were explicit to ensure a ratification of the constitution and the anti federalist were indeed a LARGE part of the effort to form a “more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic Tranquility and provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, ***and to secure the Blessings of Liberty*** to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain the establishment this Constitution for the United States America.
For the record: The Founders were “classical liberals”- those who sided with the King were the original “conservatives”- the root of conservative is conserve- to conserve is to keep- in political speak that is “status quo”-
The bullshit left right paradigm is a tool to keep voters divided- and everyone plays their part. Some with zeal, others not so much. Voters are, to politicians, a tool or an enemy. Period. AND any celebrity (or voter for that matter) who believes otherwise is just a tool for the status quo.
Trigger does a good job of pointing out BOTH sides of the equation, IMO. He is actually, fair and balanced in his critiquing. It is the posters who ‘choose’ to remain ignorant, politically, and constitutionally, who fuel the fire of divide and conquer. Talking heads and politicos lead the pack of the ignorant who have been intentionally misinformed and are played by those who take advantage of others from BOTH sides of an aislt which exists only outside the Beltway as the representatives in the District of Criminals look out for their own. Period, while throwing crumbs to the masses spouting red, white and blue bullshit to curry favor and buy votes.
February 21, 2020 @ 1:34 pm
Libertarian and independent are just dog-whistles for those too cowardly to admit they are died in the wool Republicans. Ask any progressive, they’ll tell you. There are too baskets, if you don’t want to jump in either one then screw you
For the record, conservatives aren’t more tolerant, they are just more self aware that the average person is skeptical. Progressives are less tolerant because they believe they have more power than they do, back when the religious right was winning they were also intolerable
February 20, 2020 @ 2:56 pm
“I’m pretty sure that the government ain’t going to save you
The good lord helps those that help themselves.”
February 20, 2020 @ 1:14 pm
A lot of absurdity here, but let’s start with this one: Neither of the Jamey Johnson songs you listed are even remotely political, let alone “conservative.” Keep writing clickbait if it helps the bottom line, though, Kyle.
February 20, 2020 @ 1:21 pm
I didn’t say they were. The insinuation was that conservatives could not write great songs. This is untrue.
February 20, 2020 @ 1:28 pm
“Furthermore, many of Jamey Johnson’s songs deal with what would be considered conservative themes, including the reflective “In Color,” and the cautionary tale, “High Cost of Living.””
February 20, 2020 @ 1:56 pm
As I explained in a comment below, I don’t think “In Color” is a political song, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t carry what I think most people would identify as conservative themes, including its nostalgic, reflective mood, and the fact that it mentions military service.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:28 pm
Jamey Johnson is openly conservative. Every time Johnson sings “In Color” in concert, the crowd erupts in chants of “USA, USA, USA.” The concert is delayed every time until the crowd settles. The conservative themes of embracing one’s call to duty (war) and nationalistic pride is overwhelming in that song.
February 21, 2020 @ 8:12 am
I don’t see the overwhelming nationalistic pride in “In Color.” The only thing in the lyrics that has anything to do with “embracing one’s call to duty” is the second verse, which is about World War II. I’m pretty sure any leftie who objects to a lot of American military adventures would consider that one a righteous cause.
February 20, 2020 @ 1:18 pm
Big mean Jason said conservatives don’t write good music so here’s my 10,000 word story to try and prove him wrong. My God, is it possible to be a bigger wussy than this?
February 20, 2020 @ 1:27 pm
I was told I couldn’t populate this list. So I populated it. Now I’m a “wussy.” This is the way to deflect that Jason Isbell and others were WRONG.
February 20, 2020 @ 1:40 pm
It’s certainly a list, I’ll give you that but no one
really knows how accurate that list actually is. Can Isbell be a blowhard? Most definitely, but you really took off and ran with this one. Straight into a wall.
February 20, 2020 @ 1:46 pm
That’s some specially twisted brain you got there. A wuss would be someone who backs down from a challenge and defending the facts, you moron.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:00 pm
Or it could mean that someone is so fragile that a tweet from a musician triggers a landslide of negative comments to his website, which then forces a bible sized post listing “conservative” musicians to try and prove a point. Moron.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:23 pm
Jason Isbell asserted that there were not many “great” conservative songwriters. I offered a counter-argument, now with examples. This is how intellectualism works. I haven’t lost my respect for Jason Isbell. I’m just presenting my side of the argument. But many, and I mean MANY of his fans have gotten very personal about this situation. Instead of arguing Jason Isbell’s point, or trying to see the perspective I am trying to present, it’s I’m a “wussy.” I’m “fragile.” This is all “clickbait.” I have a political agenda. I’m not really a journalist. Every effort is being made to call into question my motivations and integrity, but few are taking the information I’m presenting and saying, “I disagree, and this is why,” aside from some who didn’t read it. I would love to see those differing perspectives. This is what these comment sections are for, so we can all learn from each other, and be exposed to different ideas. Instead, it’s just been personal attacks on me. And one of the reasons for that is because the position Jason Isbell presented is indefensible. And so you go after the messenger.
Jason Isbell fans swarming en masse against the dude that left the original comment on Twitter and trying to ruin his life is disgusting. Isbell had to know that would happen when he called that guy out. We’re losing sight of the most important things about human interactions. The original Twitter commenter was just expressing himself, not different than Jason Isbell does. And he was publicly rebuked for it. Jason Isbell and his fans should be better than that.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:28 pm
Yes, let’s not challenge the infallible Jason Isbell, because we’re being wussies. The Holy Annointed Hipster Amerikkkana Lefty Douche has a lot of trolls.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:50 pm
i don’t think you know what kkk means.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:58 pm
ku klux klan
Isbell said himself from the stage at the AMA’s that the genre wasn’t diverse enough.
I’m just having a little fun with it. Muah.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:14 pm
If you need an example of it getting more “wussy”, look at your own comment. Calling someone names just because you agree with the Isbell view of things and get angry with actual open-minded people who try to see it all.
February 20, 2020 @ 3:45 pm
Who said I agree with the Isbell side of things? It’s all bullshit and the only losers are the ones who take the bait, just like trigger did. I don’t look at music as being liberal or conservative. I don’t understand why anyone would. You would be missing out on quite a bit.
February 20, 2020 @ 8:17 pm
The point isn’t that the music is liberal or conservative. The point is the guy making the music thinks he’s morally superior to everyone who doesn’t agree with him. You see that in Isabell’s presumptuous response that conservatives can’t make good music. Everyone knew he was political. What he did was confirm that he is also a jackass.
February 21, 2020 @ 8:28 am
He does? He was responding to a troll on Twitter. Have you ever been on Twitter? It’s a cesspool. Do you take everything so literal and blow things out of proportion on a regular basis?
February 21, 2020 @ 8:50 am
Jason Isbell’s tweet sparked a deeper conversation about the contributions of conservatives to the realm of songwriting. This list was requested by numerous folks, and it was populated with the intent to inform and continue the discussion. Taking it as petty or provocative or out-of-bounds is unusual. We’re just discussing matters here. A tweet inspired the Arab spring. I’m engaging in intellectual dialogue here. The fact that so many are taking this simple article listing off conservative songwriters as combative speaks much more about the perspective being brought to it than the content of the article.
February 21, 2020 @ 10:28 am
Twitter is a cesspool for sure, Steven. That said, the guy on Twitter complimented Isbell’s music and then told him he disliked his politics. Instead of taking an opportunity to seek some sort of agreement and build a bridge with the person, Isbell instead insults that person and then insults ALL CONSERVATIVE SONGWRITERS. If you can’t see why that’s excessive or unnecessary I don’t know what to tell you. That’s why he’s an ass.
February 20, 2020 @ 1:20 pm
Honestly confused as to what about “In Color” espouses conservative political themes.
February 20, 2020 @ 1:29 pm
Nobody said that “In Color” was a political song. Though I do think with its nostalgic, reflective theme, and the fact that it mentions military service, i could be taken as one, and is taken as one by many.
The songs included here were not meant to be examples of “conservative” songs, though some of them are. They were mainly meant to be examples of great songs from great songwriters.
February 21, 2020 @ 6:03 am
You hit the nail on the head Trigger.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:37 pm
Jamey Johnson is openly conservative. Every time Johnson sings “In Color” in concert, the crowd erupts in chants of “USA, USA, USA.” The concert is delayed every time until the crowd settles. The conservative themes of embracing one’s call to duty (war) and nationalistic pride is overwhelming in that song.
February 20, 2020 @ 8:08 pm
I’m not disputing that Jamey Johnson is conservative. I know that. What I will dispute, as someone with both liberal and conservative friends and family who’ve served in the military, is the misguided implication that patriotism and military service are uniquely conservative traits.
February 21, 2020 @ 8:25 am
I agree, Bshott. And contrary to Trigger’s suggestion, I don’t think “In Color” is especially nostalgic, if that word means looking back fondly on the past. The first verse is about the Depression and the second verse is about World War II, not exactly good times. If being grateful for having survived hard times with people you could count on to stand by you is conservative, count me in, but I think that’s more universal than political.
February 21, 2020 @ 8:51 am
Again, I did not offer “In Color” as an example of a political song, and have clarified that numerous times. Okay, perhaps it’s more “reflective” than “nostalgic.” I don’t think it’s unusual to say the song resonates with conservative listeners. I have seen it first hand in concert.
February 21, 2020 @ 10:24 am
Conservatives generally romanticize the past – “Make America Great Again” – where as Liberals don’t feel the past was so great and look forward to better tomorrows. I think a nostalgic song like “In Color” fits that good ole days mold.
February 20, 2020 @ 1:22 pm
Luke Combs, George Strait, Reba, John Prine, Randy Owen, are among others who are believed to be conservative leaning.
February 20, 2020 @ 1:49 pm
Not so sure about John Prine.
February 20, 2020 @ 6:02 pm
Marty Robbins was a conservative
February 20, 2020 @ 7:06 pm
And a NASCAR driver, too
February 20, 2020 @ 10:21 pm
love marty, but he died in 1982. it’s a different world bud.
February 20, 2020 @ 1:58 pm
John Prine definitely does not lean conservative. Strait doesn’t write enough to be placed in the “songwriter” category, and I don’t believe Reba does either.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:36 pm
I’m pretty sure John Prine is a socialist (and not the watered down Bernie Sanders type).
February 20, 2020 @ 1:22 pm
You forgot Lee Greenwood.
February 20, 2020 @ 1:57 pm
No, I didn’t.
February 20, 2020 @ 1:23 pm
Thank you for this. Being conservative doesn’t make you less creative, it just means you relate more closely to traditional values, or religious values. I would add Cody Johnson, and Riley Green to this list for more contemporary additions.
February 20, 2020 @ 1:27 pm
America 2020: “Nuance is Dead”. I commend you trigger for your approach to these topics and music in general. If people are too dense to see the balance you are trying to strike, then thats their problem. Even though I disagree with your positions at times its refreshing to find someone not rabidly tribal and willing to call out both sides of the music and political aisles. You can’t please the mob outside of Lot’s house.. keep up the good work.
February 21, 2020 @ 7:38 am
“nuance is dead”. i completely agree. for instance, some people blow a snarky isbell tweet aimed at someone who just told him his politics “blow ass” way out of proportion.
February 21, 2020 @ 8:57 am
Or did Jason Isbell blow a snarky tweet way out of proportion by retweeting it. Jason Isbell receives dozens, maybe hundreds of similar tweets a day, and can just blow it off. The guy that sent a tweet, who said he wouldn’t let Jason Isbell’s politics affect his love of his music, resulted in that guy being publicly admonished and attacked. It was an act of public bullying by a celebrity.
February 21, 2020 @ 9:33 am
well let’s not reframe it as a fan saying they loved isbell’s music but disagreed with his politics. he said they “blow ass”. had he not have been a dick, i sincerely doubt there would have been a response. responding to someone who says their character/opinion/etc. “blows ass” is not bullying nor is it blowing anything out of proportion.
you’re putting a lot of responsibility on isbell for his fans’ actions (which he has none) and ignoring the tweeter’s responsibility for their actions. not only did he start it by offering up his unsolicited opinion, directing it directly at isbell, but was rude about it.
freedom of speech protects your right to say whatever you want but it does not protect you from the repercussions. be a dick to someone on the internet and you might have to deal with that backlash. as i said before, the attempted hacking is crossing the line, but people (isbell and his fans) responding to a comment made in a public forum is not bullying. if he can’t handle the heat (or turn off his phone?) that’s on him.
February 20, 2020 @ 1:28 pm
I doubt that David Alan Coe, Jason Boland and Corb Lund are on the left, though I have no evidence they would consider themselves conservative. Robbie Fulks, too.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:52 pm
David Allen Coe is all over the fucking place. He’s not liberal or conservative, he’s insane.
February 20, 2020 @ 4:17 pm
Corb Lund has very nuanced views on politics (he has said he won’t talk about politics anymore because he pisses off the left and the right). Here’s a good interview where he talks a lot about renewable engery and Alberta politics: https://www.macleans.ca/culture/arts/qa-corb-lund-a-hurtin-albertan-on-hurtin-alberta/
Not that we need to be digging into everyone’s history of political comments, but I thought I’d talk about my fellow Canadian.
As for Isbell, he’s maybe my favourite artist right now. And I also love Jamey Johnson and Alan Jackson. And libertarian Dwight. And anarchist Sturgill. Who cares.
February 20, 2020 @ 5:45 pm
I saw a Jason Boland Paste Magazine live session just the other day, and without directly stating it, he seemed to throw his band in politics-wise with Drive By Truckers. Take what you will from that. As an aside, the session was great, just Boland and his fiddle player. Sounded amazing.
February 20, 2020 @ 7:59 pm
Find a lyric sheet for “Squelch.” It reveals a lot.
February 21, 2020 @ 2:58 am
Trigger, I’m very familiar. I get more of a “both sides suck” vibe from that one. Boland is the Grumpy Cat of country.
February 20, 2020 @ 1:34 pm
Ricky Skaggs.
February 20, 2020 @ 3:41 pm
Actually, maybe Ricky hasn’t written much. Great music artist, though, and definitely conservative.
February 20, 2020 @ 1:38 pm
yeah..Loretta Lynn has written good music but she cannot be said to still be particularly concerned about women’s rights if she is for Trump. Period. Many people become conservative cranks when they get old.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:39 pm
What is women’s rights to you? Because there are MILLIONS of women who probably have a different view of what women’s rights are than you.
February 21, 2020 @ 9:45 am
Womens rights is women having equal rights to men and equal choices and equal autonomy as full human beings.
The current Republican party and Trump are ACTIVELY trying to curtail women’s rights.
Therefore yes supporting the current Republican party/supporting Trump is incompatible with supporting women’s rights.
“Women’s rights can mean anything anyone wants them to be” argument you are trying is bullshit.
February 21, 2020 @ 10:48 am
Ok now tell that to the millions of Republican women who disagree with you. Amazing how you think your use of talking point generalities represents all women.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:42 pm
Does it have to be only black or white? Maybe she’s pro women’s rights, but agrees with everything else on the conservative platform.
My understanding is she’s always been Republican while having songs banned from radio about the pill, rated X, and women’s reproductive rights.
February 21, 2020 @ 9:52 am
She has an undeniable past history of being pro women’s rights which I appreciate. Just commenting on what supporting Trump says about her today and yes that is inconsistent with supporting women’s rights.
February 20, 2020 @ 8:04 pm
If you think you have to be a lefty to espouse women’s rights, you need to get back on your TDS meds – quick.
February 21, 2020 @ 6:49 pm
I’m sorry, but that’s just ignorant.
February 20, 2020 @ 1:38 pm
This is then again a great example of “we shouldn’t be talking about politics” trying to disguise the real message, which is “we should only talk about politics when and the way I want to talk about it”
February 21, 2020 @ 7:33 am
He is not talking about politics but rather the dismissal of an entire group of writers and prejudices against anyone that doesn’t go along with the status quo. The fact you can’t even see he is not claiming their political positions are correct, but disputing a claim by Isbell, is telling. The entire comment section is up in arms for him simply acknowledging the existence artists with varied political beliefs. He very clearly stated he is against the idea of dismissing people artistically based on political views and prejudices and has always talked very highly of the art from Jason Isbell on his reviews so I don’t get why he can’t point out his flaws as well.
February 20, 2020 @ 1:40 pm
but for sure plenty of good music has been written by conservative artists! Anyone who would say otherwise is showing their stupidity.
February 20, 2020 @ 1:44 pm
Whiskey Myers?
February 20, 2020 @ 2:07 pm
good one!! Ballad of a Southern man pretty much tells you where their politics lie. “I pledge my allegiance the original way, say merry Christmas not happy holidays” if those aren’t conservative sensibilities I don’t know what are.
February 21, 2020 @ 11:06 am
I’m surprised they haven’t been #Cancelled because of the “I still fly that Southern flag” line.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:08 pm
I was gonna say that. Whiskey Myers, or at least least Cody Cannon, don’t hide their politics even a little.
February 20, 2020 @ 8:40 pm
You beat me to it. Whiskey Myers is definitely among the best of the Conservative bunch.
February 20, 2020 @ 1:46 pm
Good article Trigger. Someone needed to address this objectively, instead of blindly leaping to Isbell’s defense for clout on social media. The amount of people who ganged up to pat him on the back is alarming.
I’m sure Isbell means well and is (probably) a smart guy, but the notion that only leftists can write good songs is just absurd.
Unfortunate that the woke Americana army will show up, not read this article and your comments, and start blasting you for a balanced and fair assessment of this situation.
Would be nice if a big name artist (Left, Right or otherwise) would call him out for a reality check on this….
February 20, 2020 @ 3:03 pm
Only a matter of time before one of the thought police puts an NPC APB out, if it hasn’t been done already.
February 20, 2020 @ 1:51 pm
Lynyrd Skynyrd gave us the most anti-gun song I’ve ever heard.
But, that’s beside the point. We’ve got to stop looking at politics as only coming from two sides. You could fit an ocean between the politics of a random person trying to crap on Isbell on Twitter and the message of “Where Were You.”
February 20, 2020 @ 1:59 pm
“We’ve got to stop looking at politics as only coming from two sides. You could fit an ocean between the politics of a random person trying to crap on Isbell on Twitter and the message of “Where Were You.””
Agreed.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:00 pm
Gimme back my bullets?
February 20, 2020 @ 2:27 pm
Metaphor?
February 20, 2020 @ 2:44 pm
That song was about the bullets on the singles charts.
February 20, 2020 @ 11:18 pm
Saturday Night Special
February 20, 2020 @ 1:59 pm
You can fight over who is (a little bit) too/or not enough conservative or independent or liberal.
Let’s have a last check…ok…well…the popcorn is ready.
I’ll listen to the new releases (Cory Morrow, Cody Bryan Band, Dolly Shine, Jerret Zoch, Giovannie & The Hired Guns, Fanny Lumsden, NeillyRich, The Silverline, Emma Dykes, Dani Young, Merle Marlow Band…).
February 20, 2020 @ 2:06 pm
Your title is misleading! Shame on you!
It should read, “Conservatives and Independents Are More Likely to be Great Songwriters.”
February 20, 2020 @ 2:16 pm
For me personally the most interesting thing in all of this is that my entire life I mostly disagreed with conservatives and would probably roll my eyes but be ok with Jason’s didactic, preachy virtue signaling. But over the last couple decades I’ve stayed pretty much the same, value wise, and I’ve watched the left become the authoritarians, censors, proponents of identity politics, and become totally intolerant of any form of descent. Protest music used to have a sense of rebellion or at least questioning of the status quo. Jason is a member of the current status quo in the entertainment world, yet he seems to fashion himself a hero. My impression anyway. His response in that tweet was very safe, smug, and more than welcomed by the collectivists pushing the dehumanizing narrative that conservatives are all bad people.
I admire contrarians, and gained a lot of respect for Kanye for not “bowing to the herd” as I think he put it. It’s hard for me not to have newly gained respect for anyone willing and brave enough to express conservative values these days. Nice list, some great artists on here. It will be misconstrued, but fuck it.
February 20, 2020 @ 7:39 pm
Amen.
The anti-war hippies I grew up listening to, and whom I still listen to all the time, wanted to promote their Constitutionally protected rights, especially the right to Free Speech.
And not to narrow and suppress those rights.
I’m a libertarian and a populist.
And I am generally anti-war, certainly against the bi-partisan Vietnam and Iraq wars.
And I’m for exiting the 2 undeclared wars we have now been mired in for over 15 years.
I strongly support all of our Constitutionally protected rights, including the ones who apply to people accused of crimes.
Who sings to me?
So many artists are party-line shills these days that it’s disheartening.
I hear people like Jason acting like petulant, self-indulged clowns
There aren’t any Dylans around these days
But I listen to music which speaks to my heart, like quality country, folk and Americana do.
February 21, 2020 @ 1:53 pm
Crybullies.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:16 pm
You seem a bit fixated, Kyle. And then you claim in the comments that this list was “DEMANDED” of you? But I thought, as you so clearly and succinctly told me, this is your website and you can “do whatever the fuck you want.” Yet now, you’re caving to demands?
.
Really Kyle, you need to get over this already.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:41 pm
Credit where it’s due on the potential contradiction you seem to have sniffed out. But is obsessing over a website and writer that you have already stated don’t have credibility, a good use of your time? I mean, according to you there is a serious “crisis” going on. Is this really more important to you, and if so, why? If this is how you address a “crisis,” I certainly hope you’re not part of any actual emergency management team.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:47 pm
There is no credit due to Cobra. There is no contradiction. My only point was this was not an article I planned to write, meaning something that was on my production calendar since last week. It was demanded of me, and I felt like those demands were warranted and fair. And so I wrote it. Now I’m petty and a “wuss” for writing it, at the demand of folks now calling me names. Again, it’s all about me as opposed to the content. Of course there are great conservative songwriters, and many of them. This point is inarguable. And so you attack the messenger.
February 20, 2020 @ 3:18 pm
Ah ok…and I was just trying to be a little generous as a benefit of the doubt to ask the bigger question….But to your point, it’s futile with the people who just want you to bend the knee. It’s not about debate or even the issue, it’s about power.
February 20, 2020 @ 5:43 pm
I’m not claiming credit. I don’t want credit. I don’t need credit. The fact is though that you told me “it’s my website, I can do whatever the fuck I want” and then you caved to the demands others.
Sacrificing even more of your journalistic integrity
February 20, 2020 @ 5:51 pm
PLEASE tell us more…I’m still not sure where you’re coming from on this.
February 20, 2020 @ 9:31 pm
Good lord you are dim!
February 21, 2020 @ 7:24 am
Clearly you aren’t a wuss, even just acknowledging the existence of conservatives and independents gets you ire now-a-days. The intolerance is insane. People aim to dehumanize anyone who disagrees with them, and paint them in a box, and its wrong.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:47 pm
Did you tug your nuts yet?
February 20, 2020 @ 5:41 pm
No, I left that job to your girlfriend.
February 20, 2020 @ 8:39 pm
She’ll be over soon. She needs to do Isbell first. And she will be expecting a nice dinner.
February 20, 2020 @ 3:08 pm
Cobra,
Shut The *uck Up, already.
That’s right.
Attack me.
Give you a new target
February 20, 2020 @ 3:49 pm
I find No small amount of irony in this post.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:17 pm
As an independent, I find it pretty bullshit to be associated in any way with “conservatives”! There is a huge difference between someone who might have voted for Eisenhower and what passes for “conservative” today. It is of course not impossible to write good songs and be “conservative” but that doesn’t make the small percentage of good “conservative” songwriters any less small. Also fuck Larry Gatlin. Read Waylons autobiography for the heart attack story. Again, less important than the obvious fact that “conservatives” as a general population are not great at the creative arts (see Contemporary Christian Music/film) is the question of why? The answer is in the physiological profile.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:22 pm
I’m not going to argue which side is right or wrong on the political spectrum, but a couple of these need to be taken into context. You can’t really put a conservative label on Skynyrd, at least in Ronnie Van Zant’s days. His little brother and Gary can speculate about how his politics would have shifted over the years, and it’s fair to say that had he lived, he would’ve grown more conservative.
But…
When he was alive, he was the guy who wrote Saturday Night Special and the band played Jimmy Carter rallies.
Would he have shifted after Reagan like Hank Jr did? Maybe so, but he wasn’t a republican in his lifetime, as the south didn’t fully shift right electorally until he was dead. Reagan swept the states, but then Clinton was able to carry quite a few southern states.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:47 pm
Son, I’m just a simple man
February 20, 2020 @ 2:35 pm
Randy Travis is a conservative, and wrote songs such as “I Told You So” and “Promises.”
With Alan Jackson, Travis wrote “She’s Got The Rhythm (And I’ve Got The Blues),” and “Better Class of Losers.”
February 20, 2020 @ 2:44 pm
Waylon Jennings very publicly opposed gun control.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:53 pm
Hew was also friends with John Lennon and Muhammad Ali, the form of which was at Shooter’s christening. He also visited Clinton in the White House. Another sign we can all get along.
Here’s a bit about Waylon and gun violence:
https://savingcountrymusic.com/what-would-waylon-do-about-school-shootings/
February 20, 2020 @ 10:44 pm
Waylon was not a conservative haha, pro gun does not mean conservative at all. Waylon was anti police, pro diversity, and wrote many songs about letting ppl live their lives, not to mention he had long hair in the 70s playing rock androll style country. Does that sound conservative at all?
February 21, 2020 @ 1:58 pm
In today’s political environment, anyone that fails the litmus test is conservative whether identify that way or not.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:46 pm
Trigger,
I’ve wanted to ask this for a while. Why are the time stamps for the comments on Mountain Time? I’m simply curious.
February 20, 2020 @ 6:51 pm
Guessing since he’s in Texas?
February 20, 2020 @ 9:04 pm
We’re Central Time, unless he’s in El Paso, which I’m fairly certain he isn’t.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:54 pm
It’s interesting to think about Dylan (who Jason up until a few days ago quoted in his Twitter profile – seemingly as some sort of warning). Obviously his younger years weren’t conservative. But later songs like “My Back Pages” and of course his whole religious period make him a moving target and perhaps at least more Independent? Might be a stretch..but for sure later in life he seemed to question his earlier self.
February 20, 2020 @ 3:32 pm
My Back Pages is on the album Another Side of Bob Dylan from 1964 when he was just 23, but I get your point.
Slow Train Coming from 1979 was his album after converting to Christianity. He did two more “Christian” albums that I’m less familiar with. I would put Slow Train or Infidels (where he defends Israel on the song Neighborhood Bully) as better examples of “conservative” Dylan. Complex guy no doubt.
February 20, 2020 @ 2:54 pm
How did you write this whole list without mention of possibly the greatest conservative songwriter of all time, Marty Robbins?
February 20, 2020 @ 3:02 pm
He was a NASCAR driver, for pete’s sake!
February 20, 2020 @ 2:55 pm
This is part of the hero worship phenomena. Until he actually messes up in some major public way, he will have carte blanche to say whatever he wants, and the drones will take all of it as gospel. Newspeak will be in full force, and everything Trigger is being taken to task for will not be reciprocated towards Isbell, even though he’s the instigator.
Bottom line: YOU CAN’T HAVE MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION WITH SYCOPHANTS
February 20, 2020 @ 3:00 pm
Charles Wesley Godwin’s album was pretty conservative. Conservative musicians generally don’t sing about politics, similar to how conservatives don’t talk politics
February 20, 2020 @ 3:23 pm
Check out this channel Fox News.
February 21, 2020 @ 9:00 am
Can’t say exactly what CWG’s personal politics are, but there’s certainly reason to believe he leans conservative or libertarian. His song “Here in Eden” is about personal responsibility, lifting yourself up, putting in the hard work to build something, and being the master of your own destiny.
Before he sings it live, he usually tells the story about how and why he wrote it. Apparently he met a young dude after one of his shows in some backwoods town and that dude took the opportunity to unload about how shitty his own life was and how drugs were the only solace and entertainment he had.
Most people would pat that guy on the back and tell ’em “hey, it’s not your fault, it’s society” or something, but CWG writes a song about taking responsibility and how there’s always a choice:
“Save it with the blame game/ I’ve heard it all before/ Ain’t nothin’ holdin’ you down/ Except your own feet on the floor . . . .Are you awake/ Or are you sleepin’/ Are you fixin’ or are you breakin’?”
February 21, 2020 @ 9:59 am
there are plenty of liberals that believe in personal responsibility and plenty of conservatives accepting handouts. in fact, of the six states that use food stamps the most (mississippi, new mexico, west virginia, oregon, tennessee, and louisiana), four are overwhelmingly conservative. mississippi has not voted for a democratic presidential candidate since 1976 and 21% of its population use food stamps.
to equate a value such as personal responsibility to a political stance is incredibly misguided and delusional.
February 21, 2020 @ 10:06 am
I don’t disagree. There’s quite a bit of hypocrisy and “do as I say, not as I do” in politics, but bottom-up self-governance, personal responsibility, and independence are tenets of libertarianism and, let’s call it “old style” conservatism, while top-down centralized governance, state control and social welfare are tenets of contemporary liberalism. We could go down a deep rabbit hole here, but there’s a very strong case to be made that Trump is not a true conservative, in terms of practice and policy. It’s all very muddled these days.
February 20, 2020 @ 3:03 pm
God bless you, Trigger. Thanks always for keeping a level head with stupid shit like this.
February 20, 2020 @ 3:06 pm
Sunny’s “Nothing Wrong with Texas” gets me every time.
“You might have to leave to see that you wanna come back
A big old world out there might change your perspective
Spend so much time running around in that big old Pontiac
It’s time to go back to where I learned what respect is
There’s nothing wrong with Texas”
February 20, 2020 @ 3:07 pm
Just the other day I told my cousin, Marcelle Ledbetter, my favorite thing about 2020 is it’s an election cycle, and I just can’t wait til we start getting political on SCM again, because I am so ready to rumble with these punks!!!
February 20, 2020 @ 3:12 pm
Did he really go blind from eating that banana?
February 20, 2020 @ 3:12 pm
As a conservative I appreciate the effort to highlight some conservative songwriters. But John Rich? I’ll take Kid Rock. Better songwriter and performer than he’s given credit for. Great concerts. I’ll take Ted Nugent too. He may be a caricature of himself now, but back when I was a teenager I rocked me some Terrible Ted.
February 20, 2020 @ 3:34 pm
Liberal music hipsters hate to admit it (or even acknowledge it) but Ted Nugent was at the forefront of psychedelic rock and garage rock in the early 1960’s, and was among the best lead guitarists of that time, with his band the Amboy Dukes.
Their track “Journey To The Center of The Mind” was featured on the original Nuggets compilation from 1972, whose liner notes featured the first use of the term “punk rock.”
That compilation, including that Amboy Dukes song, was highly influential to thousands of rock bands for decades afterward.
February 20, 2020 @ 4:59 pm
The Beastie Boys seemed to like him at one point…
February 20, 2020 @ 5:53 pm
Ramones recorded a cover of that song too.
February 20, 2020 @ 9:56 pm
Lord, have mercy. I get that John Rich is a love him or hate him kind of person, Kid Rock is your alternative? Let me know when Kid Rock writes a song as visceral or affecting as “Shuttin’ Detroit Down,” “Amarillo Sky,” “8th of November,” “Deadwood Mountain,” “Holy Water,” “Live This Life,” “Wild West Show” or “Can’t Be Satisfied,” “Gravity,” “That Kind of Town” or “Freedom Road”, to name a few.
Yes, he and Big Kenny have committed some “sins” against country music over the years, but they’re still damn good songwriters when they want to be, even with their joke songs like “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy).” I fail to see how bringing a dumpster fire like Kid Rock into the equation is any sort of improvement, whether you’re a traditionalist looking for a classic country fix or one that’s slightly more open to newer sounds if the lyrics still grab you.
February 20, 2020 @ 10:31 pm
this guy just admitted he likes kid rock^
February 21, 2020 @ 6:59 am
Maybe I should have left my John Rich opinion to myself, but even before the “sins” I never really cared for his music or his dime store cowboy suit. That he is always trotted out as the country music representative of conservatives makes me cringe. But to each his own, he obviously has fans out there.
As for Kid Rock, your’e damn right I admit I like him. And it has nothing to do with his political stances, or the fact that every time someone wants to put down conservatives they come up with the same old “you must be a Kid Rock fan”. In fact, though they won’t admit it, I’d bet there are quite a few people on here that have a Kid Rock album or two in their possession. That’s because Kid Rock plays fun and entertaining music, and has done so consistently for several years. He puts on one of the best live shows out there. Sure, he probably won’t go down in history as one of the great all time songwriters, but if you have listened beyond the few big hits he had 25 years ago, you would realize he has released more than just Cowboy or Bawitdaba.
Maybe you prefer to spend all your music listening time dissecting lyrics and only allowing for some pure form of music perfection, but many of us, while appreciating the artists who provide some deeper form of music, can also enjoy time spent at the lake or pool with a beer, or driving in the car and singing along to the just plain good times provided by someone like Kid Rock. At least I’m willing to admit it.
February 20, 2020 @ 3:13 pm
Merle Haggard leaned left as he got older. He wrote a song in support of Hillary Clinton and had stock in weed companies in Colorado.
February 20, 2020 @ 7:22 pm
But he happily accepted clemency from then Governor Ronald Reagan.
February 20, 2020 @ 3:13 pm
Is Jamey Johnson truly a conservative? When I saw him live in DC last year (a transcendent performance by the way, holy shit) he did a cover of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land.”
As we know, Guthrie was an avowed communist, leftist troll, and constantly critical of America. “This Land” was written to counter Irving Berlin’s “America the Beautiful” – a song Guthrie despised.
The most interesting part of Jamey’s cover was that he sang the song as Guthrie originally wrote it, including the lyric:
“There was a big high wall there that tried to stop me/ Sign was painted, it said private property/ But on the back side it didn’t say nothing/ This land was made for you and me.”
Of course, the crowd erupted in a “USA, USA, USA!” chant, no doubt set off by the line about the “big high wall” but the lyric is actually anti-wall, anti-private property. Guthrie was mocking the notion of walls and private property. Of course, the notion of private property is crucial and sacred to libertarians and conservatives, so that line is spitting in their face.
So, I was really confused by this. Did Jamey misunderstand the true context of that lyric? Did the audience misunderstand the true context of that lyric? Why would Jamey sing that lesser known lyric? I figured maybe Jamey was making some leftist commentary, trolling the crowd or something. Thoughts on this?
February 20, 2020 @ 3:29 pm
Good question. I know in some of the more beautiful parts of the country, there’s some resentment of celebrities and billionaires buying up all the property where they used to hunt and fish, etc. I don’t think singing 1 traditional folk song, even with original lyrics, is enough label someone.
February 20, 2020 @ 3:48 pm
Sure, but I can’t emphasis this enough, “This Land” is not a traditional folk song. It was composed in 1940 by Guthrie himself, an avowed communist and critic of America, specifically intended to troll Irving Berlin’s “America The Beautiful.”
The true context of the song is obvious if you listen carefully and understand the life and history of its composer and original singer, but for some reason it’s been lost on generations of Americans who miscontextualize it as a harmless patriotic ditty of indeterminate origin. For Jamey and/or the audience to misunderstand those lyrics begs a lot of questions.
FYI – there’s footage on YouTube of Bernie Sanders leading a singalong of Guthrie’s “This Land” at a dinner table with his personal entourage, and a group of Russian officials, on his pro-communist vacation to the Soviet Union in the 1980’s. I mean, come on.
I’m not labeling Jamey Johnson as one thing or the other (who knows, really?) but it felt like a very provocative (if not somewhat odd) moment during the concert.
February 20, 2020 @ 4:53 pm
Yeah I know about the song and how it’s meaning (and original form) was long overlooked by many, but it’s a well known song that most of us grew up with, not some obscure song that he had to go out and find – which might imply a correlation of ideology.
February 20, 2020 @ 6:30 pm
Is it possible that maybe Jamey is a fan of his music and could give two shits about the political context of the song? You guys read too much in to every word in every song.
February 20, 2020 @ 10:14 pm
Possibly, but Jamey didn’t sing the well know version school children sing. He sang the far lesser known version that references a “wall” and “private property”.
In fact I remember he emphasized those lyrics while singing them, and that’s when the crowd erupted. It was very purposeful, and no coincidence. Trump’s border wall was the major news item at the time.
Now, whether Jamey misunderstood Guthrie’s lyrics as “pro-wall” (conservative) or was trolling the audience with an “anti-wall” (liberal) lyric, or purposely trying to subverted the original context, I don’t know. Just saying, it was a provocative and somewhat confusing moment (for me at least) in the performance.
February 21, 2020 @ 9:33 am
Gotta say, having read almost all of almost all of the comments here, the obvious problem is defining what marks a “conservative” these days? Is it conservative to care that the environment is being destroyed? Is it conservative to support a president who, while nominally a Republican, increases the national debt by trillions of dollars, mainly by giving massive tax cuts to the rich? Can you still be a liberal and respect the men and women who join the military out of patriotism, even when you think the wars they’re called on to fight are wrong? Is it conservative to villianize public servants who, when subpoenaed to testify before Congress, show up and tell the truth as they see it? Is it conservative to hate the FBI and give Russia a pass? Is it possible to be a liberal and still think fondly of earlier days when things seemed simpler (even if in some ways they weren’t)? Figuring out what counts as conservative or liberal these days ain’t easy.
February 21, 2020 @ 9:52 am
I don’t disagree. It seems like certain sets of “values” get dropped in a venn-diagram and there’s absolutely no crossover allowed, when any sane person should see that there is always crossover and people rarely fall conveniently into one of two boxes.
Unfortunately, in a two-party political system people pick their side and dig in hard and each party stews and festers in a soup of its own worst impulses. There’s quite a lot of stereotyping going on by each side, regarding the other, too. Like, if you support gun rights, then you obviously hate gays too! Or if you don’t believe in government controlled healthcare, you must also hate the environment! Ridiculous.
It’s all highly toxic.
February 20, 2020 @ 3:17 pm
We should all be tweeting this to Isbell. I did. have 5 followers, so he’ll probably attack me first.
February 20, 2020 @ 3:22 pm
Ward Davis, based on his social media posts, appears to be conservative AF.
February 20, 2020 @ 3:22 pm
Thankyou-thankyou-thankyou!!! Finally a person named Trigger has shown a lot of perspective, unlike what I used to read (and where I cancelled my subscription to) “No Depression” magazine)…I even found out they had a few C-word people too working for them. ha-ha.
Mt. Trigger was VERY helpful without any patronizing i typically find in left-wing mainstream publications…whether gospel singers being put down as jesus freaks, or much worse the constant putdowns by the band Slayer that seemingly are ignored time and again. Just one minor thing though we don’t need the stinking NY Times to tell us John Rich or the man on the moon for that matter is a legit songwriter. Much of the country has certain beliefs that are contrary to “progressivism.” such as top down management that only Washington or Woodrow Wilson’s “administrative state”can give us…always fascinating how creative types love the top down socialism which interferes with how they express themselves…You would think more out there would want the stay off attitude when it comes to their “products.” Also glad Trigger found the real diversity of Nashville and its ability to have a counterweight to a Jason Isbel or an Emmylou Harris…unlike the popular idioms with millionaires dictating to us that murders are freedom fighters…see Beyonce. After all, No one Not even Kris Kristofferson sings the praises of the Nicaraguan gulag…and no one bothers to mock Joan Baez for pointing out the bloodbath in Cambodia…And many leftists are beginning to see what Alexander S’s Gulag had done to the Russians. So unlike some of these other guys especially these so called independents in the comments section who say only leftists can write songs and their comments have a lopsided view of life, unfortunately.
February 20, 2020 @ 3:44 pm
What did Slayer do?
No Depression seemed ok for awhile (relatively speaking), but they’ve succumb lately for sure.
February 20, 2020 @ 4:01 pm
Hello SG this Is Gino: Just check out Slayers covers alone with Catholic priests masturbating on front covers of their records…and their lyrics are nothing but Catholic bashing..and as a practicing Catholic nothing angers me more than the coverups over the years by clergy and laypeople committing atrocities on mostly young boys…and the holy father seems oblivious to all this unfortunately..He seems to be content with telling us to turn our air conditioners off in the summer months…but that aside Slayer and culture club are as subtle as a sledgehammer compared with others like Metallica who are more subtle…One should not indict every single person for the egregious sins of a few..
February 20, 2020 @ 4:39 pm
Tom Araya is a devout Catholic. Watch some interviews with him. The music is just music with him. Not to be taken too seriously.
February 20, 2020 @ 4:48 pm
You mean he separates the art from the artist?? What a (now dead) concept.
He seems like a really mellow, cool dude
February 20, 2020 @ 8:08 pm
While some members of Slayer, like Gary Holt for instance, lean to the left, Tom Araya actually swings to the right. Take a look at some of his recent Instagram posts. He’s Catholic too. James Hetfield and Dave Mustaine are right wing as well.
February 20, 2020 @ 4:10 pm
Not sure what the OP is talking about but Slayer have been criticized for having vaguely Nazi imagery in their artwork, and lyrics, while espousing some conservative messaging and commentary in the press recently. People have tried to “cancel” them.
Though Slayer have Hispanic band-members and their original producer and advocate, Rick Rubin, is Jewish – so clearly Slayer are huge Nazis!
February 20, 2020 @ 4:40 pm
Yeah I’m aware of all this, which is why I was confused. Tom said something construed as pro trump lately and then called the outraged a bunch of babies.
February 20, 2020 @ 10:40 pm
c-word people?
February 20, 2020 @ 3:23 pm
Leroy Virgil, perhaps the best songwriter of our generation.
“I like to party with Republicans”
“I love Anheuser and Meghan McCain”.
February 20, 2020 @ 3:27 pm
Think we can add Aaron Tippin to the list.
February 20, 2020 @ 3:51 pm
That’s a good one. He’s still a solid artist too. I would love to see him in a comeback.
February 20, 2020 @ 3:50 pm
I hope Isbell will remember, a southern man don’t need him around anyhow
February 20, 2020 @ 5:00 pm
Oh Snap.
February 20, 2020 @ 3:54 pm
Based on many of these comments, Trigger, it seems like you didn’t understand the RULES of identifying conservative artists:
1. You can’t use themes from their music as evidence of their politics
2. Only caricatured conservative ideas can identify conservatism (Lock her up!, kids in cages, etc.). What conservatives consider to characterize conservatism (hard-working, independent, pro-veteran) can’t be used because liberals don’t agree with those characterizations.
3. Unless an artist waves his hands and shouts “look at me, I’m conservative!” or harasses liberals on Twitter, he isn’t conservative. Privately-held politics are no politics at all.
You can quickly see how circular this gets. If an artist is subtle or nuanced about conservative themes in songs, people immediately say it’s a stretch to infer that they’re a conservative, but if they’re annoying and in-your-face about their conservatism, their songwriting is labelled as conservative slop.
I appreciate you writing this, but this was so predictably a lose-lose for you. All of the conservative-leaning themes that you pointed out were immediately shot down as not actually conservative because non-conservatives have a cartoon version of what conservatism is these days (which admittedly is partially cons’ fault). The only artists many of these commenters would accept for this list are artists who are smart, sophisticated writers, while at the same time are unintelligent yet outspoken political thinkers. Good luck finding someone to fit that mold.
February 20, 2020 @ 5:16 pm
Might just be me, but I’m starting to see a theme of condescending arrogance in comments like this.
February 20, 2020 @ 5:20 pm
Or did I miss the sarcasm….my bad if so.
February 20, 2020 @ 6:12 pm
The rules are obviously sarcastic, but no condescension intended.
February 20, 2020 @ 6:52 pm
Yeah sorry I misread..
February 20, 2020 @ 6:55 pm
You’re right about the generalization of what conservatives are, or might write songs about. While love of country or religion might be signs, I’m sure there are plenty of registered Democrats who love their country and go to church. It seems these days stars of music and movies feel a need to self identify themselves as some caricature of what they think they should be, and label the other side as a weirdo degenerate or a gun toting hillbilly.
It’s like #Me Too 2.0. Me too, I hate Trump, I’m woke and will support anything that’s opposite of what Trump says. Me too, I hate Obama or Pelosi. I’ll support Trump no matter what he says or does. Please, look at me, I’m cool. And by the way, merchandise is 25 % off on my website now.
Bunch of clowns.
February 20, 2020 @ 4:13 pm
Great post, Trigger! What I’m sure about is that politics divide people and make them sad and angry, while music make people happy and get people together. I think that for decades, nobody cared about who was conservative or liberal, among country songwriters. I don’t understand why people, today, are such divisive and intolerant. As a music lover, I love ALL great artists and songwriters, and the only thing I care about is the quality of their music and their lyrics. As a Frenchman, I admire ALL your country artists, while they make good music, past or actual, male or female, conservative or liberal. American people can be proud of them, proud of their musical history and proud of the quality of ALL their songwriters. What matters is the music… And the respect.
February 20, 2020 @ 4:19 pm
The previous article resulted in 430+ comments!
I’m setting the over/under for this article at 275 comments.
February 20, 2020 @ 4:58 pm
Trig,
It’s a nice list, but I still agree with Isbell that Libs make better writers overall. Being driven by feelings, and essentially being emotionally unstable, makes a person more introspective, which is why Libs are so good at it.
In a perfect world, Libs would ignore politics altogether, and focus on art. Both art and politics would improve.
February 20, 2020 @ 6:02 pm
I’m confused on how so many people can’t understand the damn article/list Trigger posted. And accusing someone of clickbait is getting old quick, especially on this site where nothing seems to be very click-baity. How is naming an article about what you are going to talk about clickbait?
February 20, 2020 @ 7:58 pm
People are calling these articles clickbait in an effort to undermine them in the lack of a relevant rebuttal. Call it clickbait, hopefully people won’t click and find out what they’re saying is wrong.
February 20, 2020 @ 8:00 pm
Couldn’t agree more. This was the article I was hoping to see anyways, so good job!
February 20, 2020 @ 8:28 pm
Trigger,
I think they’re calling it clickbait because these types of articles get so many more comments than anything else you post. Content of a political nature just draws people in. It’s almost like people are thinking: “Trigger must be short on rent, cause he just wrote another political article.”
I’ve often wondered if you write these articles because they get more clicks, but I really don’t care whether you do or not, mostly because they’re the most fun comments sections. I haven’t been on here in 5 months, but I’ve commented 10 times in 2 days on these Isbell articles.
February 20, 2020 @ 9:20 pm
Hit the nail on the head, Honk. I don’t think most anyone is calling it clickbait in the sense that it’s pointless drivel, but three articles in a few days, each with hundreds of comments when most get closer to 20. Either Trig is bored, or he owes Isbell a sandwich next time he’s in town for driving all this traffic.
I get where Isbell turns people off, but he swung back at a guy who jabbed him out of nowhere on Twitter and we’re losing our minds over it.
February 20, 2020 @ 9:49 pm
Again, comments don’t denote traffic. They just denote comments. The recent stories I posted on Daniel Lee Martin and the passing of Paul English got WAY more traffic than any of these Jason Isbell articles, and didn’t result in dozens of people deleting me on social media. Reporting on this Jason Isbell stuff has been directly detrimental to the traffic on this site. I have lost a significant amount of followers. But I couldn’t in good mind not address what I feel is a very aggressive effort by Isbell to politicize the music space and pass judgement upon people due to politics. It’s also been very ironic that many of the same people that demanded I come up a list of conservative songwriters to back up my claims are the same ones now saying I’m obsessed with the issue and keep posting about it for clickbait. I did this for them. I already knew there were many conservative songwriters. They called me a liar for not presenting any.
Also to pull the curtain back a little bit, websites aren’t rated based on “clicks.” They are based off of unique viewers in 24 hour, week, and month long periods. For example, Honky has come here and left 10 comments. That means he’s clicked on the site at least to times. However this only registers as one unique view. He could come here 100 times and it’s still only one unique view. So even though comments can help draw a crowd, it doesn’t really benefit the site in regards to revenue. Thus, there’s no point in posting articles due to the amount of comments they will get. The way to get “clicks” or unique viewers up is to get the attention of search engines by posting something a wide swath of the internet will either being interested in, or that is going under-reported, or is timely. This Jason Isbell stuff just doesn’t fall within that category.
February 20, 2020 @ 11:51 pm
Okay… It’s hard for me to process that the amount of comments on each article don’t have any correlation to the amount of unique views, but I have to take you at your word until you give me a reason not to. I totally buy that a bunch of the comments/views are the same people coming back multiple times because I can see the same names a bunch of times in the comments, but are you really not getting more people coming by to check the site out? Because it seems like if someone on Twitter posted that you talked shit about Isbell (not personally saying you’re talking shit, but I can imagine people on Twitter say you are), you’d get a mob coming to see it for themselves. You can’t be losing viewers to this site, can you? I could believe you might lose some Twitter followers. I’ve scrolled through the Twitter comments and don’t see anything resembling a demand for a rebuttal with conservative writers. Link me something that I’ve missed, though.
I agree with your general take that great songwriters can come from either camp, though more artistic types tend to lean liberal. I see how Isbell rubs people wrong. I’m a huge fan of his overall, but I don’t find myself overly excited for his upcoming release and I don’t think that political songs are his strong point by any means. But for someone who writes tons of words taking down mainstream artists in considerably more acerbic language, you really seem to have your feathers ruffled over his response to some rando on Twitter who instigated, and for someone who claims to be so apolitical, you have gone in hard on this issue that you absolutely knew would bring a hugely political response.
Again, I’m not upset at you for it. I just assume you’re benefiting from it somehow, and I don’t blame you for that. If you don’t want to admit to it, that’s fine, but I am genuinely curious about the motivation here. Hell, maybe it just caught you the wrong way and you can’t shake it. We’re all human and get pissed off about things that other people don’t quaite understand. Bottom line, you do a ton to promote all kinds of music in this realm and you catch a lot of unwarranted shit for it in my opinion, so I want to again thank you for bringing so much good music to my attention and hope you keep this up as long as you can, even if you post some things I disagree with from time to time. Those posts at least make me rethink my position for a while, and I appreciate that, too.
February 20, 2020 @ 6:29 pm
Hello SG
This is Gino…I meant to say the Diabalous album and the earlier christ mutiliated albums…just not my cup of tea…since these records were in the 80s and early 90s Maybe Mr. Araya and company had changed their views. 37 yrs is a long time…perhaps I was stuck in the 90s. thankyou for your insights as well.
this is what I liked about Nashville music: a good conversation without any cancelling out or bullying for the most part. and the real diversity of music where I have both toby keith and Kris in my collection…also you forgot Johnny cash and how he could walk that wire between left and right so gracefully.
February 20, 2020 @ 7:32 pm
Please provide a “conservative” themed song. When I listened to JI sing Be Afraid, he did not sing conservative or liberal, just sing what you believe.
Love Jamey Johnson, Chris Knight, and even Casey Donahew….haven’t heard too many of their songs about capital gains taxes, climate change denial, or the dangers of gay marriage, or the criticality of keeping pot illegal.
Not sure Jason Isbell’s “Thank God for the TVA” qualifies as a liberal anthem.
When the guy said “your music is great, but your lyrics suck” he opened himself to a retort.
Much ado about nothing.
Where do the Turnpike Troubadours and Mike and the Moonpies fall on the political spectrum? Who cares?
February 20, 2020 @ 8:25 pm
Not trying to be antagonistic (I’m serious) but if you really listen to someone espousing views that are diametrically opposed to your own and it doesn’t ruffle your feathers, you might as well listen to instrumental music. Lyrics matter and sometimes their intent is to poke listeners with opposing views in the eye.
February 20, 2020 @ 8:42 pm
You forgot kids in cages. Can’t forget kids in cages. Conservatives LOVE putting kids in cages. Kids in cages.
February 20, 2020 @ 9:16 pm
Trump policy had kids in cages. It’s confusing: are you disputing that as a matter of fact, or tivilaizing it by mocking those who express moral indignation about it. Either way, get a grip.
Outrage about athletes and musicians staying in their lane is always ridiculous. Couching some desire for “apolitical art” in some fake high-minded ideal about protecting music, sports, etc. from the infection of politics is almost always cover for the real objection: dislike of the substance of the politics being expressed itself. And beyond that, maintaing an “apolitical stance” and being on the sidelines is a political choice with political implications. You can make the case the frivilous diversion and/or drivel has value in this world, but that’s a different arguement altogether.
Right now, the best country music is being made by artists with liberal ideas, and many of them are telling us that those values are IN the music itself. As the creators and authorities on their own material, I’d believe them. Conservatives have to find a way to deal with that dissonance beyond feeble cries for these artists to steer clear of politics.
February 20, 2020 @ 9:50 pm
I want to add too that this comment is just brutal. What happened on the border to those families is a humanitarian catastrophe. And if your arguement hinges on what the definition of a “cage” is, reflect on that.
Always been a fan of the blog for showing me some new music, but if there was any doubt prior, this sad post and this specific comment unmasks where you stand politically and the true nature of your sanctimonious cries about country artists on the left airing their politics: you just don’t like they’re ideas; next time just say that.
I think we’ll all be wating for your post about how wrong it was for all the artists you mention above for broadcasting their conservative ideas. Take them down, one by one, true hero and advocate for the purity of country music!
February 20, 2020 @ 10:06 pm
Ryan,
In 2017, the very conservative and religious country artist Aaron Watson released an album called “Vaquero,” and right during the height of the border debate. The reason he named the record such was to pay homage to the many Hispanic Texans who came to his shows, and those who strived to be US citizens who embodied the same type of family values, faith, and hard work that many of his white fans do.
Nobody wants there to be kids in cages. I don’t even think Trump wants kids in cages. It’s a propaganda phrase, similar to when a pro life advocate says people want to “kill babies.” Of course nobody wants to kill babies, just like nobody wants kids in cages. Yes, there’s also a very important debate to be had about what “kids in cages” actually means. But the idea that a conservative would, should, or must sing about that, or capital gains taxes or global warming to be a conservative songwriter is misunderstanding their motivations. At the absolute worst, conservatives see “kids and cages” as an evil side effect to securing the border. Conservatives love kids too. Implying they don’t care is an attempt to dehumanize them, which leads to the kind of anger someone like Jason Isbell presents towards them. The idea that conservatives either get off on putting kids in cages, or are even okay with it enough to sing about it in songs is ridiculous.
February 20, 2020 @ 10:36 pm
This is the height of irony: it’s the pointing out that under a Republican President and a Republican Controlled Congress, families were permanently “separated” and kids were caged (when that had not been the case under President Obama), that’s dehumanizatiing in this set of events. Yikes.
It’s not “propoganda” to point out the horror that happened at the border; this was a choice done in our countries name. I think any clear thinking citizen should disavow what happened to those families; wherever you stand on immigration.
I’m not totally sure how telling yourself that separating families permanently and putting people into putrid conditions inside chain linked enclosures was a “necessary evil” makes it easier to sleep, but it looks like it does that job for some. It defies common sense; requires a whole lot of rationalizing gymnastics to get there.
It’s ironic, because I think that that horrific policy actually set back the cause of immigration restriction by turning good-hearted people away and weakening the support for the bigger project.
But back to the bigger issue: next time you’re rankled and hurt by a liberal-minded musician saying something you don’t like, just post about disagreeing with their politics; it’d be way more honest and definitely less obnoxious.
February 20, 2020 @ 11:13 pm
Ryan,
I appreciate your passion on this issue. All that I was trying to point out is that not in an hypothetical, but in an actual scenario where a conservative Christian songwriter decided to broach the border crisis issue, he did not do it by canonizing kids in cages, because that would be insane to do. Instead he tried to humanize Mexican immigrants by pointing out their similarities with Texas/American cowboys. That is how many conservatives handle political issues. That is what John Rich did with “Shuttin’ Detroit Down,” giving the business to corporate executives and big bankers. So to insinuate that conservative songwriters getting political would take the shape of condoning global warming or putting kids in cages is incorrect. It hasn’t happen, and it wouldn’t happen, no different than someone who is pro-choice would write a song glorifying “killing babies.”
February 20, 2020 @ 11:32 pm
For some reason I can’t reply to your latest in order, so I have to do it here.
Your claim is that using storytelling to broach, illustrate, and advocate around sociopolitical challenges is primarily the means of choice for conservative country musicians, as opposed to more liberal-minded ones? That is a wild thing to say for someone who runs a country music blog; incredily wrong. It’s also ironic, given that the initial subject was Isbell.
There’s motivated reasoning all over this article and subsequent comments. Your own politics are on display.
February 21, 2020 @ 6:49 am
Never happened. Do some research
February 21, 2020 @ 2:11 pm
And Uteruses (uterie? uterus’?). My sole purpose in life is to get my hand on your uterus and control what you do with it.
February 20, 2020 @ 7:44 pm
Thanks for identifying these conservative songwriters. I’ll make certain I avoid them.
February 20, 2020 @ 8:43 pm
Yeah bro, this list will help us avoid any diversity of thought and unsafe spaces. Crisis averted right?
February 21, 2020 @ 10:24 am
I’ll start listening to these artists same time I start watching Fox News or hearing Lee Greenwood sing his jingoistic anthem without puking which is NEVER.
February 21, 2020 @ 10:39 am
I hear you bruh,
I puke whenever I hear “other” views myself, and DEFINITELY when I hear the bad orange man….I go into an uncontrollable rage. We need to resist by not even listening, and shutting them down.
February 20, 2020 @ 8:42 pm
Thank you for this article trig. There is nothing political about standing up to bigots like Jason isbell. He should seriously consider giving up social media. His concert attendance is starting to fall off. Of course that might have something to do with him forcing wokeness into songwriting. You know the phrase…..”Get woke go broke”
February 20, 2020 @ 8:44 pm
Going outside of the country realm, I do believe Dimebag Darrell himself was a Conservative Republican.
February 21, 2020 @ 7:30 am
Kinks have some very good anti-big government songs and complete albums as well. There are plenty throughout every genre. I don’t align with either party, so it makes seeing these battles as that much more asinine and telling when people can’t even handle the acknowledgement of those that disagree with them. Look how upset people are at Trigger for simply stating there are conservative and independent writers… WTF.
February 21, 2020 @ 8:22 am
The Taxman by the Beatles is a good example.
February 20, 2020 @ 8:44 pm
I don’t know, your Isbell criticisms seem slightly odd and knee-jerk. The twitter thing needs to be taken in context; Isbell is a self-described ‘smart-ass’ and often is pretty snarky with his online hecklers, even if it is sometimes a bit cringey. Obviously he wasn’t trying to make a historical statement, but just being his usual self. He didn’t say their ‘aren’t great conservative song-writers’ as you inaccurately titled your post, he joked about their not being a lot of them. We can all argue about what ‘a-lot’ is and if he was right or not, but again he was replying to someone saying his politics ‘blows ass’. Obviously you need to take his comment with a grain of salt.
Secondly, the line in ‘Be Afraid’ can be taken a lot of ways. We don’t know exactly what he meant by that line. The song is obviously about folks doing the right thing and standing up for what they believe, picking one line and then asserting your translation seems odd to me. He could of been talking to himself, he could be describing what someone told him, what he said to a friend, etc. He has repeatedly said he isn’t usually the narrator in his lyrics, and can’t stand when folks think he’s always talking about himself in his songs. Someone of your musical knowledge should know this about song writers.
But anyway, I enjoy your posts usually and learn about great music from your site. Maybe we’ll see you tomorrow at Mike and the Moonpies! If I knew what you looked like I’d buy ya a beer.
February 20, 2020 @ 9:38 pm
Totally agree the Twitter thing needs to be taken in context, and the context was a pattern of behavior from Isbell where he’s discounting the efforts of other creators if their political ideology doesn’t align with his. The Tweet and the lines from “Be Afraid” are parallel. That is why it was important to call attention to them.
Probably won’t see you at Mike in the Moonpies. In Portland? They were supposed to be at the Ameripolitan Awards this week in Memphis, where I’ll be. Guess plans got changed.
February 21, 2020 @ 8:28 am
Well, I guess we’ll agree to disagree on the Isbell debacle. (You read the Sturgill intereview yesterday?) Yeah, Portland (some reason I was thinking you’re living here). Have fun in Memphis!
February 21, 2020 @ 9:41 am
Exactly.
Isbell was being a dick on Twitter, not making a grand statement about art.
February 20, 2020 @ 9:02 pm
I didnt read every comment but I think most are missing the point here. Trigger is only pointing out that both sides of the isle can be creative and write passionate highly acclaimed songs. Whether you are left or right you have to realize political affiliation has nothing to do with creative talent. If any artist (in this case Isabel) conservative or progressive makes a definitive statement that is damaging and frankly just not true he or she needs to be challenged, and in my opinion that is all this article is doing. Not writing this article only allows statements such as Isabel’s to resonate and be validated. The fact here is that both Liberals & Conservative can be creative and successful in creating a song for any genre of music. Politics will always be a part of music and song writing and that is ok in my opinion, but both sides of the isle should encourage whatever motivates the creator to produce a well crafted song. Isabel in the instance seems ignorant here and I bet if asked he would want a do over, because no one wins when people are silenced, we all should encourage each other to be heard, not attacked by a mob when we disagree.
February 21, 2020 @ 7:25 am
THIS! Simply acknowledging that you can be conservative and creative created flack. Its quite telling if you ask me.
February 20, 2020 @ 10:12 pm
In addition to “Don’t Let the Old Man In,” I’d like to formally introduce Toby Keith’s song “Tired” into the argument for his songwriting bonafides. An album track from his 1997 album Dream Walkin’, it had a music video shot but was never actually released as a single. As far as I’m concerned, it has one of the most relatable approaches to blue collar life I’ve ever heard in a song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_hWRCgLIiE
February 20, 2020 @ 10:47 pm
Certainly by US terms I am left wing. My favourIte artists are definitely on the right of the spectrum. I don’t really care if they espouse their views as it’s their views and not mine. I am clear with my beliefs, they can weighing as much as they want without it upsetting mine. I certainly don’t get butt get about it. In other shocking news me and Toby Keith have different tastes in food.
February 21, 2020 @ 12:14 am
Not to let the facts get in the way of a good debate, but Isbell’s actual tweet implies that there aren’t “plenty” of great songwriters of that particular political persuasion, not that there aren’t any. I think the fact that Trig had to use several artists whose relevance peaked many many years ago in order to populate this list only serves to prove Isbell’s point. It’s also absurd to imply that it’s peer pressure that make artists and creative types liberal. Jason Isbell grew up in Alabama, not exactly a bastion of progressive thinking. The fact that a site like this that is supposed to be about the music is shaming him really proves why the pressure is coming from the other side and why it’s not unreasonable to think he might have been “Very Afraid” to speak about what he believes.
Also, the notion that only conservatives write songs about military service and/or nostalgia is ridiculous. There are two military veterans running for president this year and neither of them are on the red team. Obviously, writing or caring about soldiers does not bar you from being a progressive. Come on, you’re better than this.
Finally, I’ll say this and then get off my high horse. There are still kids in cages at the border. Kids. In cages. In America. We should be celebrating artists who use their platform to speak out on the atrocities that are happening now. Good for Jason Isbell. From Dylan to Marley to Springsteen there is a long line of important artists who used their music to move the needle on social or political issues and our culture is better off because of them. At this point it’s not even about politics anymore, it’s about morality. If Toby Keith or Hank Jr want to write a song about why those kids belong in cages then that’s their prerogative but I think most folks know history will look favorably upon those who speak out now in favor of justice.
February 21, 2020 @ 2:55 am
Excellent post, DandyMoss. Thanks.
February 21, 2020 @ 6:45 am
According to Joe Biden, the Administration in charge in 2014 put Kids. In cages. To keep them safe.
February 21, 2020 @ 11:11 am
While it’s technically true that the Obama administration had a (bad) policy of 72 hour catch and release detention at the border that ended up keeping children detained for a short period of time, it’s telling that you only point out who started it and not what we can do to end it. The fact is that it got terribly worse under Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy and now one side is almost unanimously against it while the other side would like very much for us to forget about it. My only point in my post was that the policy is wrong no matter where it originated and songwriters who use their art to instigate these discussions (as Jason has often done, including his work as producer on Josh Ritter’s latest where they tackle this very issue) are actually brave for doing it. The level of vitriol against Jason Isbell in these comments are proof positive of that. Where were all these haters when Southeastern came out? You guys loved Jason Isbell before you knew his politics. He will lose fans because of his stances and he knew that and did it anyway. That’s kind of what the song is about.
February 21, 2020 @ 5:55 am
I do have a preference for “conservative songwriters” because i’m a conservative myself, but i refuse to dismiss good music because an artist doesn’t share my leanings. Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Steve Earle are good examples.
It would be sad if we reached a point where showing up at the “wrong” concert will be taken as a political stance. It would be much better to leave the politics at the door and share a beer or a dance to some good live music.
I think it’s good of you Trigger, to write about this particularly sensitive topic. I’ve noticed that especially when it comes to country music, people tend to split hair. Be it a brainfart on twitter, an out-of-context quote from an interview or just speaking before thinking.
February 21, 2020 @ 6:30 am
This is my favorite conservative song of the past 10 years. Try getting it out of your head after just one listen!!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vPRfP_TEQ-g
February 21, 2020 @ 11:09 am
LOL damn you.
February 21, 2020 @ 7:20 am
Its mind blowing how upset people get when you simply acknowledge there are writers with different political views. That in itself is very telling. This is a very narrow list and goes through all genres if you look for it. I hate how people try and box groups in, whether politically, or professionally, or ethnically etc. You can be right wing and be for open borders, you can be leftist and be pro gun, etc. Stop making assumptions based of one known fact and open your minds.
February 21, 2020 @ 7:28 am
Crimony, I read all that and all I can say is it’s a Bad Time to Be a Good Ol’ Boy. Jeff Dugan. Check ’em out!
February 21, 2020 @ 8:09 am
As I said the other day in my jason who post- it’s all about attitude- and attitude is presentation- any celebrity who espouses some sort of left right paradigm ain’t near as smart as he/she believes him/herself to be- neither are his acolyte fans.
Willie is arguably the most “liberal” (by today’s political standards) than anyone- yet, he remains humble in his presentation (music) and insightful in his writing- I love me some Willie and was saddened that he endorsed beto- as I said, smart and celebrity don’t necessarily go together- and anyone who lets another decide his politics for him ain’t smart either, regardless of his ability or place in life.
Oh, btw, I enjoy woody guthrie music and I’m a libertarian, through and through- I can see his point, but, it doesn’t mean I’d vote for him, or Bernie Sanders, or Trump or any of the other empty suits (especially residents of the District of Criminals),who play like they care- I can’t stand jason who or that simpson guy or toby keith- I like Hank jr’s music, but him, not so much- the “list” could go on for days-
SMH- Trigger can’t win- that says a lot in itself.
February 21, 2020 @ 8:21 am
I came across this video of Waylon being interviewed, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crAuVBBmoXo.
In addition to coming across as an incredibly decent guy, he also happens to talk about running for political office, gun control, and the state of country music at the time (1999)!
Given the recent discussions on this blog, it’s funny to have come across this evidence of the views of one of our greatest shared heroes on somer of the topics about which we feel greatest passion.
Waylon comes across as charming and humble. As to politics, he jokes that he’s not going to run for office because he’s “the guy who stays home and gripes!” On gun control, he seems to be staking out what he thinks of as a common-sense, middle-ground position. As to country music, he name checks a few of his current favorites (Leroy Parnell, Travis Tritt, and someone else) and mentions that he thinks women were making most of the best music at that time, picking out Trisha Yearwood by name.
February 21, 2020 @ 9:48 am
My authoritative take on this whole controversy:
Isbell was being a dick on Twitter.
Any deep-dive analysis of his statements outside of that context is silly.
February 21, 2020 @ 10:49 am
Did you say authoritahhh???
February 21, 2020 @ 11:01 am
This is a second dumb article based on a single joke tweet. Trigger stinks.
February 21, 2020 @ 11:14 am
I’ll take your lack of addressing anything in this article and instead attacking me for the same thing Jason Isbell fans demanded I post as admitting Isbell was wrong.
February 21, 2020 @ 11:20 am
Counterpoint: you still stink.
February 21, 2020 @ 12:04 pm
i saw travis tritt last night at one of his solo acoustic shows and i was just about in tears watching him perform “where corn don’t grow.” anyone check out the newest aubrie sellers album? i really like some of the songs on the album, but i’m not sure how country it is…
February 21, 2020 @ 12:42 pm
I’m sure I can come up with some additional names if I gave it some thought, but the name that actually came to mind reading through the comments was that of Phil Ochs. No, he was most definitely not a conservative. He actually had Mao quotes on the back of one of his albums and was more of a radical leftist than any songwriter I can think of from the ’60s… Yet he also covered Merle Haggard songs in concert and was quick to acknowledge what a great songwriter he was.
What happened since then? Too much media division has made it unthinkable for conservatives to enjoy Steve Earle or liberals to listen to Hank Jr. And that’s sad. If we never hear the other side for ourselves all we have is our stereotype of them. And that only divides us further.
February 22, 2020 @ 8:23 am
Also right leaning, and for some reason never released, how about Cody Johnson “All I see is red”?
February 22, 2020 @ 8:13 pm
Isbell and Simpson both come off as snarky pricks. Sam Williams said the same dumb shit about Trump voters being racist. Further proving the fact that they let what the mainstream media says control their thoughts, and frankly proving that most liberals are just plain ignorant. Their music is pretty shitty too.
February 23, 2020 @ 12:49 am
Jamey’s “Angel” is heartless. that steel has no empathy.
February 24, 2020 @ 12:59 pm
Conservative, liberal, I don’t really care. Entertainers have the right like everyone else to say what they please. I choose to treat them just like I treat Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc as places filled with bombast, conspiracy theories, baseless opinions and tons of ignorance…where groups cling and close their minds. I pay no attention to or are influenced by any if this. If I did I’d have nothing to listen to (or buy, eat, wear etc with everyone taking a stand on something :‑X)
I maintain my own agency and do my own fact finding.
March 4, 2020 @ 12:20 pm
Great list. And this doesn’t even count the many, many professional songwriters, who are strictly songwriters.
March 13, 2021 @ 12:04 am
I love Jamey Johnson with a passion. I’m a liberal, but I do not see why The High Cost of Living an In Color are conservative. They are gorgeous songs, and High Cost of Living is courageous.
December 23, 2022 @ 1:26 pm
Perfect example:
https://open.spotify.com/album/0PIRTjbBZhqQjfSiZkzQio?si=wwwhRyKQT_ClLqYsfXZRPA