That can probably be attributed to him getting sober right as a sector of boomers were beginning to become hippies. https://www.btrtoday.com/read/featured/the-politics-of-johnny-cash/
Merle was in the audience at San Quentin when Johnny Cash played, as a prisoner. The guy was a badass.
I did know that much. And I know Bakersfield CA is its own sound and Merle was one of the ones to help establish it
To understand Merle, you kind of have to understand his upbringing. Great depression baby, walked into his family's trailer when he was 9 or 10 and found his dad sitting in his chair, crying and unable to move because he'd had a stroke and was partially paralyzed. Then his dad died shortly after. Juvenile delinquent from basically then on, in and out of prison, then did 3 years in San Quentin. Grew up hard, lived hard. Saw the protestors as just ungrateful complainers. I forget where I read it, but he said in an interview as soon as Okie came out and became a thing, a large part of him regretted it immediately. When that song was getting him the attention of George fucking Wallace and those types, alarm bells went off. But the label didn't let him release the follow up song he wanted, and Fightin' Side of Me was the double down instead because money is money and that's what his crowds wanted. He wanted to release Irma Jackson, a 180 from all the hubbub surrounding Okie and a song about interracial marriage. Whereas John Prine's "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore" (released two years after Okie) very much defined the values and politics that John had for basically the rest of his life, Okie was just a song in a snapshot of Merle's life. Of course it still follows you around, but I'd say the majority of Merle's years after were lived with beliefs that didn't match the version of Merle that did Okie. I don't particularly buy the satire or social commentary "excuses" that were theorized about his motivations.
Thank you. My take was based on what it's like growing up in rural SC watching people sing along to that song. (And feelings I felt singing it when younger, being honest.) Wasn't saying to cancel him, or that he sucks, but I feel better about propping him up if I know he's not just an avatar for chuds. Maybe I need to get Merle's biography next. (That part about his dad sounds horrible though )
It definitely got co-opted by idiots back then and now, but the song is definitely not representative of Merle the person in totality. Not saying he was perfect or without flaws by any means, but you're not backing a bigot or anything like that.
I was always a little skeptical about Merle after I heard the white boy song, but I have never known with any certainty what his politics were really about.
i don't know that he always kept his politics straight. he was a big time reagan fan(i read that reagan pardoned him?), but he also supported and wrote songs for obama and hillary.
Everyone who dabbles in this thread needs to watch this. https://www.withoutgettingkilledorcaught.com/
Today was the Steve Earle q&a following a live stream. Next one is on the 22nd. https://www.withoutgettingkilledorcaught.com/tickets
This profile of Merle is one of the best things I’ve ever read https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1990/02/12/ornery
My brother saw Mike and the Moonpies last night at the Far Out Lounge and is going to see Joshua Ray Walker in Tulsa next week.
Just bought tickets for American Aquarium in Nashville for a June show. Cannot wait for live music again.
Norm Peterson DaveGrohl https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/496091...share_id=8784d2c8-ccd1-49c4-9724-548d07174ab5 Still no Car Rentals available Edit we could rent from the nissan dealer or CentsAuto possibly
there's others in the area around the same price https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/123891...on_id=p3_1620328818_P36XASE4W0buS6Uy&guests=1
Stuff pops up just about every single day, but is gone in hours. For example, a 2br 1 bth in Kallispell is on VRBO for $130 a night right now
1st year on BnB, just went active. I'm renting at a $1000/wk more than I rented with a reality company.
Great memories of my mom rockin the Mary Chapin Carpenter and Kathy Mattea cassettes back in the early 90s.