Riley Green’s “Bury Me in Dixie” Returns to Streaming Services
Riley Green’s “Bury Me in Dixie” has returned to streaming services after it was pulled due to a controversial line in the song. “I wish Robert E. Lee could come and take a bow” is the line that was deemed too incendiary to continue to serve to the public, and the song was pulled from streaming services in late October. Inside sources confirmed that the song was pulled due to the line seeming to glorify the Confederate general.
However the song has now been reinstated with no fanfare from the Riley Green camp, and no coverage from the media. Though Saving Country Music cannot confirm exactly when the song returned, it appears it was around November 10th when Riley Green posted a short clip of him singing a new song called, “Leave My Country Alone” (see below). The song includes the line, “They wanna change all the words to my songs, wish they’d leave my country alone.” In the clip, Green then launches into “Bury Me in Dixie” at the end of the new song.
The pulling of Riley Green’s “Bury Me in Dixie” was not the only time the Alabama native had his words changed. His current single “I Wish Grandpas Never Died” included the line, “I wish country music still got played on country radio.” In a recent edit sent to radio stations, the line now says, “I wish George Jones still got played on country radio.” Though the difference is subtle, it’s clearly calculated to curry favor with country radio. “I Wish Grandpas Never Died” lifted from #31 to #29 this week on the MediaBase radio charts.
The pulling of “Bury Me in Dixie” resulted in a deeper discussion about race and censorship. “I wrote ‘Bury Me in Dixie’ as a tribute to my home state and the values we have where I grew up. The song got me where I am today and I stand behind it,” Green said at the time, but it still didn’t answer why the song had been taken down initially, and who made or authorized the decision. Green’s label is Big Machine Records, and two versions of the song appear on two separate EPs the label released in 2018, including one specifically called Bury Me in Dixie.
Riley Green also promised on November 2nd that he would be releasing an acoustic version of “Bury Me In Dixie” recorded at his show in Phenix City, Alabama. However that version has yet to come. Instead, an acoustic version of “I Wish Grandpas Never Died” recorded in Phenix City was released on November 7th. It appears there could be some legalities and brinkmanship occurring between Riley Green and his camp, and his label Big Machine Records. Clearly his label is looking to avoid controversy by removing songs and lyrics to help aid Riley Green’s ascent as a new country artist. However Riley Green doesn’t appear to be on board, at least not after the backlash the removal of “Bury Me in Dixie” received.
Leave My Country Alone. #BuryMeInDixie pic.twitter.com/2s7jiUkSKA
— Riley Green (@RileyGreenMusic) November 10, 2019
November 16, 2019 @ 3:51 pm
Wish some people would stop being so politically correct, and not be afraid to stand up.
Good for Riley, for telling his story.
Hope he continues to put his voice and story 1st.
Screw corporate.
Be yourself.
Works a ton better than being afraid.
November 16, 2019 @ 4:22 pm
I fully agree with the idea of writing and singing what you want as an artist, and standing up to your label. And I like to see someone being proud of where they come from. But I have trouble seeing how you can talk about values in your state and then send support to Robert E. Lee. Those are two polar opposites from my perspective.
November 17, 2019 @ 7:14 pm
Robert E. Lee was a general in the south during the civil war? How does it not make sense? It’s heritage. I’m just as proud being from the south knowing I had such a great legend as General Lee come before me. One of the greatest generals to ever serve.
November 18, 2019 @ 7:31 am
Lee had a life of note before and after the war.
November 16, 2019 @ 5:19 pm
Any chance this is all just a stunt?
November 16, 2019 @ 8:38 pm
Man, I just don’t think so. There is way to much risk these days getting on the wrong side of woke cancel culture by doing a stunt like this, I just don’t see how it would be worth it. Total speculation, but I think Big Machine decided Riley Green had a big future, they just need to scrub his image a little bit. Riley had to be on board to some extent, because he sang the replacement line on “I Wish Grandpas Never Die.” But when his fans backlashed after the pulling of “Bury Me In Dixie,” he probably put his foot down. It will be interesting to see what happens with his career from here.
November 16, 2019 @ 7:13 pm
He posted that leave my country alone clip on twitter and I fisted pumped with excitement when he said that knockout line and went right into bury me in Dixie.
November 16, 2019 @ 8:18 pm
“When I was a kid Uncle Remus he put me to bed
With a picture of Stonewall Jackson above my head…”
Good Ole Boys Like Me is a masterclass in songwriting.
Bury Me in Dixie ain’t.
November 16, 2019 @ 10:49 pm
An artist should be free to express his opinion, no matter how historically illiterate it is, as is the case here. But I never quite understood what Green believes Robert E. Lee should take a bow for. Surrendering? Leading a military insurrection aimed at preserving the “right” to enslave others because of their race? His foolhardy (and costly) decision to try and wage a conventional war against a more densely populated and industrialized North? His stated belief that slavery was good for Blacks? His tendency to separate (actually, sell off) family members of his own slaves? The fact that soldiers under his command massacred black Union soldiers who tried to surrender at the Battle of the Crater in 1864? Should Lee take a bow for arguing against giving Blacks the right to vote, writing that “the negroes have neither the intelligence nor the other qualifications which are necessary to make them safe depositories of political power”? Should he take a vow for his lifetime of devotion to the notion of white supremacy? There was nothing noble about Lee (except that he had the good sense to surrender, and hundreds of thousands of lives were lost) and Green’s song is just another bit of Southern propaganda meant at whitewashing Lee’s un-American behavior.
November 16, 2019 @ 11:41 pm
It’s pretty mind boggling to me. The man quite literally waged war on the United States of America. He was a traitor and was very effective at killing Americans.
As you point out, the lyrics here are puzzling as well. I can’t think of a reason why Green would want him to take a bow. Revering Robert E. Lee is quite literally revering someone who fought for the downfall of the United States of America. The opposite of patriotism. Green can write, sing, and perform whatever he wants.
“They want to change all the words to my songs.” People might want to change those particular words because it shows that you’re either misinformed on Lee and what he did to America, or alternatively, you’re supportive of it.
Lots of talk about “snowflakes” getting worked up about being too politically correct. I don’t care much for political correctness, but this is just plain silly songwriting. It’s a dumb statement. It paints country music in a bad light.
November 17, 2019 @ 12:49 pm
Most importantly…Lee has literally no connection to the state of Alabama!!!
November 18, 2019 @ 7:46 am
Regarding people like Lee as un-American is exactly the opposite of what Lincoln wanted. Fortunately Grant carried out Lincoln’s wishes rather than yours.
November 21, 2019 @ 6:48 am
And then the killed him.
November 17, 2019 @ 6:02 am
What a generation of good for nothing millennial whiners. Stop looking to get offended at everything and go live your life, people. Nobody gets up in arms about the right things anymore, always just for something innocently “politically incorrect”
November 17, 2019 @ 7:47 am
Ok boomer
November 17, 2019 @ 8:29 am
Ok.
I’m within the millennial age group, but I refuse to be lumped in that category of “people”..
November 17, 2019 @ 10:41 am
I’m not offended by the line. I’m offended by the stupidity of the message he’s trying to send. The immediate knee jerk reaction against people being “offended” is just as bad as outrage culture. It takes no analysis of the situation.
Somebody above said that it paints country music in a bad light. I agree. Makes Riley Green look like he’s never read a book before or he’s hateful. The former is bad, the latter is obviously reprehensible.
November 17, 2019 @ 1:05 pm
Riley Green is a millennial.
November 17, 2019 @ 6:58 am
His debut album big time flopped. Some of his songs are decent but I’m not sure if he’ll become a big star like many fans claim he’ll be (Looking at you, Grady Smith lol)
November 25, 2019 @ 10:37 pm
Also looking at Margo Price and Josh Hedley and Amanda Shires and…
November 17, 2019 @ 12:52 pm
I hope Riley is the future of country music. He was an absolute doll when I met him at CMA fest this past year. I’m glad he is refusing to back down to the PC corporate labels. I only hope it doesn’t affect his career negatively and that Big Machine doesn’t retaliate against him.
November 17, 2019 @ 1:05 pm
“In Love By Now” is my favorite song from him. It was on the top of my summer playlists!! But sadly the song stalled at radio and was pulled in favor of “Grandpas Never Died” … The grandpa song is ok but it’s all list, no story… After the Numbers on the Cars song, I was hoping “Grandpas” was going to be a moving song.. But I was disappointed… I’ll root for Riley but I kind of feel that he’s a diluted down version of Luke Combs… More music from him is needed to get a full grasp of his true artistry!!
November 17, 2019 @ 1:08 pm
The reason people could take issue with the line “I wish Robert E. Lee could come and take a bow” is because Lee fought on the side that wanted to keep people as slaves. Picking that line out of a song with no context suggests that Riley Green unconsciously or otherwise subscribes to the lost cause narrative perpetrated during the Jim Crow era.
In the context of the song, it’s pretty clear Green is just trying to give props to his home state. Does including the line automatically make Green a racist or merit censorship? Absolutely not. But it sure makes it look like he didn’t pay attention in high school history.
Considering the lionization of Lee in the south (he’s carved into rock alongside
his buddies in my home town), and the prevalence of the lost cause narrative, keeping the line is ironically more honest then censoring it.
November 19, 2019 @ 4:34 pm
But how does referencing a man famous for his dedication to the Commonwealth of Virginia “give props” to the State of Alabama?
November 17, 2019 @ 1:30 pm
To everyone kicking up dust for dust’s sake…
Might want to take some time to research how many people have performed the Robert E. Lee over the years. Or mentioned Robert E. Lee in any context.
Give you something to do as you watch the NFL, and the gentlemen who choose not to stand for the National Anthem.
Let’s hear you protest about those protesting our National Anthem. And the owners of the teams who quite clearly demonstrate their (the owners) lack of backbone.
Hey, if you’re going to play football, by all means, play football! And, have a great time doing it.
November 18, 2019 @ 5:10 am
I’m sure that’s a fair comparison. Colin Kaepernick and his ilk are after all responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of U.S. citizens, just like Bobby Lee.
November 18, 2019 @ 5:58 am
So if I’m understanding you correctly, I think you are suggesting that the people who are “kicking up dust for dust’s sake” (because that’s obviously what they’re doing) are hypocrites if they take issue with the glorification of a slaveowner who led the armed forces of a regime committed to the preservation of the institution of slavery, but are not equally outraged by the black football players exercising their first amendment rights to protest police brutality against black people (that’s what they’re actually protesting, by the way). Never mind that those football players are themselves largely the descendants of American slaves. Do I have that right?
November 18, 2019 @ 10:56 am
Are you intimating that the football players who kneel are doing it only to protest against police brutality of a certain race? (And yes, i know the reason for those who choose to kneel, during the National Anthem).
I would like to think they would be protesting ALL police brutality, worldwide.
And i would really like them to exercise the right to protest, somewhere/sometime, other than when our National Anthem is playing.
November 18, 2019 @ 1:11 pm
They are predominantly African Americans protesting the treatment at the hands of the police of fellow African Amencans in their own country. And you are certainly welcome to your opinion on when you think they should protest and when you think they shouldn’t.
November 18, 2019 @ 1:45 pm
Yes, i understand this.
I feel that this is a time & place issue.
No one wants police brutality. There are NO excuses for it.
However, not the wisest choice to demonstrate during the National Anthem.
Such a lame time to do it. Very easy, no effort required, to take a knee for 5 minutes when you know worldwide, people will be seeing how noble & caring you are, just because you took the time to demonstrate, when you had to be there for the game, anyway.
You want a demonstration?
Tell these same athletes to get off their asses, and congregate, in the towns these brutalities are taking place. Shake up the PD’s in the vicinity, see that they take a stand against the perpetrators.
By the way, i am not speaking to every police action. Only those, that are true brutalities.
Believe it or not, there are actually some very wonderful law enforcement people out there, who also want to see the right thing happen.
November 17, 2019 @ 9:30 pm
I’ve yet to hear a clear defense or explanation of that line. Riley hasn’t explained it, and neither have his supporters. I suppose that’s because, when you look at the problem straight in the face, there’s really no way to justify a lyrical salute to a monster of a man. So we will of course talk about censorship and corporate overlords rather than what is being censored or why Riley thinks ‘Southern pride’ means taking the worst aspects of your heritage and holding them up like a badge of honor.
It makes me sick that the language of patriotism has been co-opted to support a man who sought to tear this country apart.
November 17, 2019 @ 11:06 pm
If Riley Green wanted to assert that he was just speaking proudly of his Southern heritage, or that he’s specifically referencing Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox which basically ended the conflict, or Lee’s reconciliation and participation in academia after the war, the line would make more sense. But he’s sort of side stepped defending the line himself. He could also make a statement saying something to the effect that he has nothing but respect for African Americans, and in no way wanted to glorify the institution of slavery, and doesn’t believe singing the praises of Robert E. Lee does that.
November 22, 2019 @ 5:28 pm
Or he could have written a line honoring Alabama, the subject of his song, rather than a Virginian slaveowner!
November 22, 2019 @ 6:15 pm
Lee will be remembered in history.
You, on the other hand, will be forgotten the moment you are dumped in the sterile Massachusetts ground.
November 25, 2019 @ 1:25 pm
lol.
Lee is remembered in history.
As an extraordinarily gifted tactician who committed treason against the United States of America, in order to fight for a country that said, in its Constitution “No bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law denying or impairing the right of property in negro slaves shall be passed.”
I know this, because I studied history at a Southern university. It’s cute, though, how triggered you get by facts and logic.
December 11, 2019 @ 10:37 am
Robert E Lee was an abolitionist. Takes not much looking to find that out. Maybe the liberals who protest this song for supporting this great man should take a second to think before they speak.