Thought I'd throw a couple of "Huh?" posts out this week. Let's listen to some songs that just COULDN'T be from the artist in question. Like, say, today's entry. A country song from a British singer/songwriter and his lyricist.
When Elton John was at the peak of his popularity (in the mid-'70s), I read a piece in People magazine about him and his songwriting process. Bernie Taupin wrote lyrics, and Elton would look at them, figure out the rhythm, then either write a song or not within FIVE MINUTES. He would noodle it for a time, so it wasn't like it only took five minutes to write it, but to know where a given lyric was going, with zero direction about the music was incredible.
That brings me to today's song. A social commentary about Texas Rednecks taking umbrage at the perceived negative influence of Rock and Roll types. This song might have been right at home in late '70s and early '80s country radio.
Unfortunately, the lyrical content, although over 40 years old, just about fits today's alt-right movement. Back then it was "long hairs" and "hippies", today it's anybody who's "different". But in the end, the sentiment ("Godammit, you're all gonna die") remains. I guess everything old is indeed new again.
Back tomorrow...
Pete
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