BurnetAggie99 said:
Yea Isabell and Childers plus Sturgill Simpson is also liberal. What's shocking is both Childers and Simpson grew up in rural conservative Kentucky. Jason Isabell from also conservative Alabama. You question what the hell happened there. They say they have influences like Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Merle Haggard and so forth but choose to forget their country upbringing and roots
Pop country has been marketed to be a homogenous "patriot - conservative - government loving" etc since the early 2000s. It's really just a marketing gimmick and a way to sell more Toby Keith records.
Johnny Cash: Cash was known for his progressive political views and often wrote songs that dealt with issues such as prison reform, poverty, and social justice. Some of his songs with left-leaning lyrics include "Man in Black," which addresses the struggles of working-class people, and "What is Truth," which was written in response to the Vietnam War.
Merle Haggard: Haggard was a conservative for much of his career, but he also wrote songs that expressed a more left-leaning perspective. One example is "Okie from Muskogee," which was originally intended as a satire of conservative values but was later adopted by the political right. Another song is "Rainbow Stew," which celebrates diversity and advocates for peace.
Dolly Parton: Parton has always been politically neutral in public, but she has written songs that address social issues. One example is "The Bridge," which deals with racism and the need for understanding and unity.
Kris Kristofferson: Kristofferson was a political activist in the 1960s and wrote songs that addressed social and political issues. One example is "Blame It on the Stones," which criticizes the media and establishment for blaming rock and roll for social ills.
Loretta Lynn: Lynn was a pioneer for women in country music and often wrote songs that dealt with feminist issues. One example is "The Pill," which was controversial at the time for its frank discussion of birth control.
Woody Guthrie: Although he was more closely associated with folk music, Woody Guthrie's influence on country music is undeniable. He wrote many songs that dealt with social and political issues, including "This Land Is Your Land," "Deportee," and "Tom Joad."
Hank Williams Sr.: Williams is often thought of as a conservative icon, but he also wrote songs that expressed a more progressive viewpoint. One example is "Mind Your Own Business," which criticizes gossip and encourages people to focus on their own lives.
Willie Nelson: Nelson is known for his liberal politics and advocacy for marijuana legalization. He has written many songs that address social and political issues, including "Living in the Promiseland," which advocates for immigration reform, and "The Great Divide," which deals with income inequality.
Waylon Jennings: Jennings was known for his rebellious image and outlaw country style, but he also wrote songs that addressed social and political issues. One example is "America," which criticizes the government and calls for change. He even wrote a song for Hillary in 2008.
Pete Seeger: Like Guthrie, Pete Seeger is more commonly associated with folk music, but his influence on country music is also significant. He wrote many songs that dealt with social and political issues, including "We Shall Overcome," "If I Had a Hammer," and "Turn! Turn! Turn!"
Steve Earle: Earle was known for his progressive political views and his willingness to address controversial issues in his music. He wrote songs that dealt with topics like the war on drugs, capital punishment, and the struggles of working-class people. Some of his songs with left-leaning lyrics include "Copperhead Road," "The Revolution Starts Now," and "The Galway Girl."
Nanci Griffith: Griffith was known for her folk-influenced country music and her advocacy for peace and social justice. She wrote songs that addressed issues like nuclear disarmament, immigration, and poverty. Some of her songs with left-leaning lyrics include "It's a Hard Life Wherever You Go," "Trouble in the Fields," and "From a Distance."
Mary Chapin Carpenter: Carpenter was known for her introspective songwriting and her willingness to address difficult topics in her music. She wrote songs that dealt with issues like gender roles, mental health, and environmentalism. Some of her songs with left-leaning lyrics include "He Thinks He'll Keep Her," "The Hard Way," and "Stones in the Road."
John Mellencamp: Mellencamp was known for his blend of rock and country music and his advocacy for social justice. He wrote songs that dealt with topics like poverty, racial inequality, and political corruption. Some of his songs with left-leaning lyrics include "Pink Houses," "Paper in Fire," and "Crumblin' Down."
The Dixie Chicks: The Dixie Chicks were a country music trio that was known for their outspokenness and their willingness to address controversial issues in their music. They wrote songs that dealt with topics like war, political censorship, and gender inequality. Some of their songs with left-leaning lyrics include "Not Ready to Make Nice," "Travelin' Soldier," and "Goodbye Earl."
Kacey Musgraves: Musgraves is known for her progressive views and her willingness to challenge traditional gender roles in her music. She wrote songs that dealt with topics like same-sex marriage, drug legalization, and environmentalism. Some of her songs with left-leaning lyrics include "Follow Your Arrow," "Merry Go 'Round," and "High Horse."
Jason Isbell: Isbell is known for his socially conscious songwriting and his willingness to address issues like addiction, poverty, and racism in his music. He wrote songs that dealt with topics like gun violence, political polarization, and social justice. Some of his songs with left-leaning lyrics include "White Man's World," "Hope the High Road," and "Something More Than Free."
Sturgill Simpson: Simpson is known for his blend of traditional country music and psychedelic rock, as well as his willingness to challenge traditional political and social norms. He wrote songs that dealt with topics like war, economic inequality, and political corruption. Some of his songs with left-leaning lyrics include "Turtles All the Way Down," "Brace for Impact (Live a Little)," and "Call to Arms."
Margo Price: Price is known for her socially conscious songwriting and her willingness to address issues like poverty, addiction, and gender inequality in her music. She wrote songs that dealt with topics like police brutality, immigration, and the opioid epidemic. Some of her songs with left-leaning lyrics include "Hands of Time," "All American Made," and "A Little Pain."
Brandi Carlile: Carlile is known for her blend of folk, country, and rock music, as well as her advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and social justice. She wrote songs that dealt with topics like love, acceptance, and political division. Some of her songs with left-leaning lyrics include "The Joke," "The Story," and "Party of One."
Chris Stapleton: Stapleton is known for his blend of traditional and modern country music and his socially conscious songwriting. He wrote songs that dealt with topics like poverty, addiction, and social inequality. Some of his songs with left-leaning lyrics include "Broken Halos," "Midnight Train to Memphis," and "Maggie's Song."
Miranda Lambert: Lambert is known for her blend of traditional and modern country music and her willingness to address difficult topics in her music. She wrote songs that dealt with topics like domestic violence, women's rights, and animal welfare. Some of her songs with left-leaning lyrics include "Gunpowder & Lead," "All Kinds of Kinds," and "Tin Man."
Brandy Clark: Clark is known for her introspective songwriting and her willingness to challenge traditional gender roles in her music. She wrote songs that dealt with topics like LGBTQ+ rights, addiction, and small-town life. Some of her songs with left-leaning lyrics include "Girl Next Door," "Love Can Go to Hell," and "Three Kids No Husband."
The Highwomen: The Highwomen are a country music supergroup that was formed in 2019, and they're known for their socially conscious songwriting and their advocacy for women's rights. They wrote songs that dealt with topics like gender inequality, reproductive rights, and political polarization. Some of their songs with left-leaning lyrics include "Crowded Table," "Redesigning Women," and "The Chain."
TLDR --- Nashville likes to market the traditional conservative image of country music, but if you look beyond the mainstream, you'll find a long tradition of so called "left-leaning politics" in blue-collar country and folk music.
Artists like Zach Bryan, Kacey Musgraves, Tyler Childers, and Sturgill Simpson are carrying on this tradition by singing about issues that matter to them and their fans, like the environment, anti-war, distrust in corporations, minority rights, and social justice.
It's not just about pandering to a wider audience or making a quick buck, either. These artists genuinely care about the issues they're singing about and want to make a difference. In a way, they're continuing the legacy of folks like Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan, who used their music to address social and political issues of their time.
They're part of a longstanding tradition of artists who come from disenfranchised and impoverished communities, writing songs that speak to a better America that supports blue-collar and low-income individuals regardless of race, sexual orientation, etc.
