Once in a very long while
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009Over the course of many weeks I began to notice a strange song on country radio. What I had at first dismissed as typical ‘WE RAWK LIKE ARMY FRAGGLES’ claptrap, I began to realize possessed a certain… tone, a subtext if you will, hidden deep within the song’s imagery and phrases.
I’ll pause now and let you look at the lyrics:
I can’t tell you precisely which line first caught my attention. Perhaps, “Got herself a record, can’t even sing a note”. Or maybe it was my pause in curiosity “Is he saying Bride or Lie?”
I mentioned in passing to some friends that I was under the suspicion that Toby Keith had attempted an experiment in irony. I wasn’t entirely sure as I had yet to actually listened to it intently, but I had hope. When I finally saw the song in full, laid out like some gift from Jesus, I couldn’t contain myself. A former professor of mine dreams of having a telethon fundraiser one day for people without irony. I do believe we have found its theme music!
And it doesn’t end there, watch the video:
More than that, watch others attempt a reaction to the song here:
My particular favorite is this gem from Cowboy Blue, who says:
When I first heard this song I ended up neutral too. I wanted to like it because I love Toby’s music and loved the feel of the song, but at the same time I found it to be very out there and maybe to loaded with comentary. This song will probably grow on me very fast and become a favorite of mine, but I can safely say if I followed it word for word it would certainly contradict with a lot of my personal beliefs.
Definitely one of the most interesting songs of the year.
A few more people cast aspersians on the song, going so far as to accuse Mr. Keith (or the songwriters themselves) of misogyny. But Mr. TBone was there to defend:
Toby Keith is AMERICAN in every sense of the word, and the fact that you judge him and this song is why there are songs like this…. sorry, but I hated hated hated this song the first two times I heard it and by the 3rd time, I got it. Toby is Man enough and American enough to say anything about America. If you don’t agree with the song, you live with your blinders on or you shouldn’t live in America. Period. Our Country is F’d Up and we’re damn proud of it. “That’s us! That’s Right! Gotta Love this American Ride!!!!”
I almost want to go so far as to say that Toby Keith’s entire career: the pro-military, boot-in-your-ass, Dixie Chick baiting, giving whiskey to horses career has set him up for this one perfect moment in time. It almost hurts to think about it.