Country song with 48M views! | Dr Syl's Analysis 

Link: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sqSA-SY5Hro.html What should I react to next?

The instrument is resonator guitar; acoustic guitar that produces sound by conducting string vibrations through the bridge to one or more spun metal cones, instead of to the guitar's sounding board.

Dr Syl, I love how your "humanness" comes through in your analysis videos. Your delivery isn't a flat sterile commentary void of individual emotions. You let your true compassion and vulnerability shine through. When something touches you, like this song, it is obvious and wonderful and beautiful. Thank you for being you. ❤

No matter how many times I listen to him, it’s hits deep every single time! I feel what he’s feeling.

This young man is speaking from pain and many can relate in the world but especially in America.💗💗

I would suggest OAM’s “I Want to Go Home” too. The title of the song is “Rich Men North of Richmond” not “Obese Folks Next to Fudge-Rounds”. He is attacking the abusive system out of Washington DC (both parties) which is located North of Richmond, VA.

The problem is we all know this is true, we ALL know this.. And yet we don't stand up for it, we don't change it... WHY? is it a singer that needs to say what we ALL know and see so clearly? What does it take for all of us to stand up and change the way WE have made this world? The world is beautiful by itself. It is OUR choice what we make of it. So when will it go beyond listening to a pop song and actually standing up and changing things that are in fact totally in our hand??? I give my life to this every day...

So, Lord Syl, master of psychiatrics and sorcerer of the soul. There is a layer of old US politics that you probably don't know, but Richmond was the capital of the Confederate States of America during its rather brief tenure, so this song was called a "right wing dog whistle" by an awful lot of "commentary" types on social media. As a writer myself, the rich men/Richmond pun has occurred to me many times--this guy just made the connection to DC. I also love how he used people like me and you/you and me, which is super corny by itself, but he says "bullshit" in the first verse. Dude can write a song.

His voice is so powerful. Your commentary as always is on point and agree. Universal themes most people can latch on to.

A point you seem to have missed (as expected, since you aren't from the US) is that due north of Richmond Virginia (100 miles on Interstate 95) is Washington DC. What he is telling you is that EVERY problem he mentions comes directly from government policies. He's not talking about well to do businessmen living in the suburbs he's talking about politicians passing taxes and regulations that destroy the rest of us.

Food stamps vary according to the state you are in. I have Lupus and years ago it decided my hip joints were the current enemy and i couldn't walk for a while. I was approved for disability and my monthly income was less than 1k. I applied for food assistance and received $14 a month. If not for friends and family I would have been homeless. Fortunately, Lupus is a strange disease and 18 months later decided that my hips could stay and other parts of my body were bad. I was able to get off disability and return to work for another 8 years. People on food assistance aren't always living in luxury on the taxpayer, that's a tale the rich men north of Richmond like to tell. Honestly, if every dime of my taxes went to hungry bellies, I would be happy about it.

In interviews, he says it's less about the Obese, and more about the system who gives food credits to the poor, but then denies them healthy choices within the confines of those credits. The rich have Americans on a processed diet full of sugar which compounds the problem, leading to higher insurance and medical costs. Right now, the working class can't afford to buy a home or support any healthy way of living while Politicians and corporate America bleed the populace dry. Another line in there are about the young who are experiencing high death rates because society keeps them from ever thriving.

Born and Bred Texan here. He's playing a Gretsch Bobtail resonator guitar. My husband is a Psychologist. We're considered "upper middle class" but in the US we're all being taxed to death. In some states even after death because there are estate taxes as well. On the drugs issue, which is a very real problem, this young man has been struggling with alcohol abuse. Richmond, Virginia is just south of Washington, D.C. and he's talking about the politicians and the rich corporations who basically own them. Fudge Rounds are a snack food made by the Little Debbie company. 2 soft chocolate cookies with chocolate creme between them. One will fit in the palm of your hand and they're 300 calories. Very good but not exactly health food. His issue is not with people being obese but a Welfare system that makes it far too easy to just live off "free" government money. Some of these people are, to be perfectly honest, just flat out lazy but others have given up and don't know how to get out. That's when people like you and my husband come into play. That "controversial" line hits hard. Our government has been screwing coal miners and others in similar jobs but protecting the rich and powerful on the Epstein list. I enjoyed your comments!

In regards to his statement about the obese, I believe he is speaking up about the imbalance of priorities in our society. On one hand, here in the U.S., it is true there seems to be insufficient support for our hungry and homeless population. On the other hand, it is also true there are people who abuse our welfare systems to either acquire much more than they practically need, or to regularly purchase foods that are not life-sustaining (I.e. candies, sweets, or otherwise junk foods). I do not believe his intentions were to attack our obese community.

A perfect description of the drug problem in the states right now. It isn’t just the homeless, but it’s inside the “homes” that it’s now happening. These powerful drugs are Destroying families.

I’m so happy your doing this one 👍

Regarding the fudge rounds part, I think there may be another angle he may be trying to speak to, which is the government’s roll in enabling bad health by subsidizing unhealthy foods through welfare.

Also very interesting to learn about the difference between social and mental depression. I have dealt with both. Maybe you could talk more about that and treatment for both.

Is it really the stress of not working that increases domestic violence? Or is it that the abuser has no reason or money to get out of the house anymore ? (Geniune question, open to discussion)

Hello sir, I was suggested your channel today by youtube. I usually post on the creators newest video, for your convenience. I subbed and watched several of your videos now. Love this song by the way, its circling the internet. Please post more vids on anxiety. 3 years of therapy, I am still troubled.

I don't know how it is in other countries, but in the US, healthy food is expensive. Most people work more than one job so there's less time to cook at home. And things that could help obese people, (meds, procedures, therapy, gym memberships) are prohibitively expensive. I think obesity is another symptom of the overall problem with capitalism. That said, I've seen plenty of people on welfare who are definately working the system... that's really what I think he's trying to say in the song. Maybe the "fat" was a metaphor?

When it comes to the "obese milking welfare" where I get angry is I don't mind paying for ANYONE'S food if they need help... I just don't want my taxes to pay for "fillers" or crap food that isn't going to support a healthy lifestyle. That's the only part of this reaction I disagreed with. Besides that, I loved all of your thoughts and look forward to more! Keep up the good work!

hi dr. syl! i would love an in depth breakdown/analysis of c-ptsd if you ever have the chance to make one :))

Many people who are poor in America have weight issues in part because of the food available from government aid. Most of the food available from food banks are carbs and sugary foods and the food stamps don't cover much so its much easier to stretch it the full month by eating a lot of carbs, super processed "dairy" and such, and high sugar foods. You're getting the calories but it's not good calories. Also, I know you meant well but saying that obesity is caused solely by overeating us extremely problematic. The types of food contributes (which is a major issue in the US, especially in poorer neighborhoods where you have food deserts compounding the cost issues) and there are also people like me who were legitimately born big and genetically are big. There's not much you can do when you're fighting your genetics and natural build constantly.

I guess you chose not to touch on the miner/minor hot topic!

When you spoke about obesity, that resonates with me. I have binge eating disorder and a lot of childhood trauma, so you were spot on. It’s unfortunately a coping mechanism. Also, that’s a steel guitar I believe.

Lawyers are already jumping on Ozempic and others for side effects. That is a resonator guitar. More -- #OliverAnthonyMusic

It’s worth thinking of this song in terms of literary symbolism rather than literal politics. “…the obese milking welfare…” for one example is rich in meaning if you just want to tease it out. Literally, it’s fat people getting government checks, sure, but beyond that, it’s about powerful people using an incompetent (and indifferent) government to cheat common people: such as the extremely wealthy using loopholes to avoid paying taxes while low-income taxpayers get their paychecks stripped. There are many ways to be “obese” and many kinds of government “welfare.” There’s plenty behind the title “The Rich Men North of Richmond” alone but of course it’s about Chris feeling helpless in the face of the wealthy and powerful in Washington DC. But it seems to resonate in one country after another around the world, not just in the USA. That’s why it went viral. Lots of different people in different countries get lots of meanings from it.

No satisfaction in life results in low self-esteem and destructive behaviors. Also, we have a problem in the U.S. known as "food deserts" in poor communities abandoned by governments who refuse to enforce laws and prevent unconstrained shoplifting which in turn drives businesses away. These businesses ordinarily provide essential services such as healthy groceries, sundries and personal services. Eventually, the situation spirals into hopelessness and despair.

A dollar. Medicare/Social Security 3.5 percent, federal income tax 18 percent, state income tax 8 percent, sales tax to spend the dang thing, 7 percent. My dollars are worth 63 cents each, and I'm sure somewhere in there there's another tax I didn't think of. Gas tax, cigarette tax, probably a tax on alcohol. Hidden taxes my dad called them.

Around the 10 minute mark you talk about there being plenty of food. Not for homeless in the US. You probably have better infrastructure there. There are obese people getting free food but they often have unteeated medical issues like hypothyroid (we don't have universal medical coverage) and live in food deserts which are areas that only have gas station junk food or fast food with grocery stores miles away without a bus route. People injure themselves working hard like he does then can't walk that far to get healthy food or get exercise and often end up addicted to pain meds or street drugs when they can't get the legal stuff. The things he talks about are true but aren't simple or straight forward issues like people make them out to be.

yeah not really food vans that I know of, food banks you can go to sometimes, sometimes churches will serve hot meals, but we could be doing a *lot* better at feeding our homeless here in the US than we are in most places.

I think it's a resinator guitar.

Could you do a video response to Marie Rose ‘I hate my mind?’. The video is 4 years old now and she’s doing really well!

That's a dobro. The instrument.

Hmm. I have so many complex feelings about this song. Because I know a lot of people in my southern town who would take this as a means to justify many….. dangerous opinions and views and actions. On the other hand, I can 100% relate to the message.

I would like a plant tour please

I work in sewage. I make good money because no one wants to work in sewage. But it’s fine after a few weeks, and I get to finish at 4pm and go home and not thing about it again until 8am. It’s brilliant. It’s also very interesting and I also feel like it’s quite important. Go work in sewage or water treatment, no one wants to, but it’s good money and low stress 😊

Obesity. I have been thin all my life.. Till i hit 30 or 35. Then my weight started fluctuating 5-10 kg in even half a year. There was no obvious reason, as far as I could tell. After many phases i ended up 20 kg over what i used to be, and overweight. Which is a lot, as i'm quite short. In a bit over half a year i got it down 10 kg, but the rest 5 i'm trying to cut seems to be really hard. Partly because i still don't know all the reasons. Maybe hormones, IBS (it's crazy: in the time of most obesity i was in constant diarrhoea [like 6-7 days out of 7] which kinda doesn't make any sense to me: you should go down, not up, due to it, shouldn't you?), stress, lack of sleep, medication to that, and - imho - something wrong in my body. Maybe my digestive system just stopped working like it did. Was it like living a luxurious life during that all? Well.. no. Should someone pay to me eating by their taxes? I think i paid some taxes, too.. Should society punish me for that all? Well, depends upon if you believe the punishing does help. I don't. Being there was a punishment itself (imagine not being able to go anywhere for more than a short visit, and on many days, at all - as you always had to be near the toilet. And the tiredness was all-consuming - i was like in a hibernation a lot of the time, hardly staying awake. If your body doesn't take the nutrients from the food, but makes you just fear of eating.. but so hungry you have to eat, at least something...) You'd like to give it a try? Go on - you can have mine. I think i enjoyed of it enough already, i can give it to the next in line

THis is cultural in that blue collar folks talk pride in work ethic and traditional values. Working long hours at labor jobs in itself is a source of pride. When that money is forcibly extracted from you and redistributed by institutions that have no connection and are contemptuous, and then squandered on, poorly run programs, it's demoralizing. especially becasue we have nothing to show for it at the end of the day. I work for my family, not for some wonk. And

Its called a dobro. Also the north of Richmond is DC.

The instrument is a Dobro.

Didnt the Singer Chris Anthony /Oliver Anthony ,also have a nasty workplace injury to head ?

Please check out his song I want to go home! He has experienced mental illness and addiction and turned to God and two weeks later this song was given so much so success ! His music comes from a mountain range here in America called Appalachian, this music is Appalachian blues , I have grown up in and around these mountains and his music is almost nostalgic for me❤ I hope you will look at more of his music

One solution Revolution

Interesting reaction, but you ignored the "elephant' in his song: "I wish politicians would look out for MINERS & not just MINORS on an island somewhere".

I'm so hopeful when hearing this commentary around issues eg- welfare/obesity that people will look further into their own biases and get educated and learn to empathise. Pointing out obese individuals on welfare and painting them as "greedy/taking advantage" ignores the issue that obesity is a disease, not a choice. I have hope in humanity for more understanding and empathy in general with educational content like this. It's understandable that one would assume obesity = greed when the persons making such an assumption simply are not educated in the disease that is obesity. With welfare/centrelink/"dole" (in Australia)- not a fun time and I feel that too many people have no empathy to those who receive it. Calling people "dole bludgers" is problematic in that it ignores the issues that bring people to rely on this. Important too to point out that the total possible payment available is also below that of the poverty line. Then the issue of poverty creates more vulnerability to mental health challenges among many other problems. Therefore centrelink =poverty= vulnerability. Doesn't = comfortable carefree fugde eating. Once the fudge is gone you're still in a vulnerable poor existence. I certainly don't see a link between welfare resulting in happy healthy wealthy. I don't know how people on welfare survive let alone imagine them thriving. So yeah, all this to say I don't think comparing working class to welfare recipients is helpful at all to anyone, the grass is not always greener- would you rather be in their shoes? Probably more fair to point out the massive gap between rich and poor rather than pit "dole recipients"/poor unable to work and almost poor but able to work against one another. Love to see Drs debunk stereotypes and educate us to be more empathetic ❤

Dr Syi another factro in such industrialised Cities, is the heavy metals accumulated . In Lake Macquarie Lead levels were so high in children that families were made to relocate . Lead & aggression is also a real health issue. So far I've found no serious health data on health impacts on families community & environments exposed to multiple emissions from for eg one of the worlds largest power stations Eraring . Sure the EPA have limits for each chemical ,/heavy metal. eg mercury selenium, cadmium, arsenic, copper , lead dioxins & more . However no one to my knowledge monitors the data & impacts when these are mixed into cocktails -Cocktails that can be absorbed through multiple pathways,/ skin , respiration, food & fluids. Note selenium becomes more harmful the further up the food chain it goes. Anyway my point is these harmful emissions also affect many aspects of health. Intelligence aggression, energy, & lifespan. Id love someone to seriously undertake studies on the health data of those living near these industries. Im old enough to recall when the Health Department was involved in these industries . The approval processes & the monitoring . All there on behalf -independently for the public. However this original role has fallen off the agencies job description . With no replacement ever being made .

Resinonce guitar

Why you uploading at midnight fam 😂

You're on point enough with the rest of your analysis to give you a pass on your utter, and predictable misinterpretation of the welfare lyrics. Thanks for playing.

I was vibing along until he got to the fat phobic part like he's oversimplifying a complex issue but it's understandable he would feel that way I've been in poverty my whole life but I've also been morbidly obese my whole life I'm on food stamps and my heaviest I was 420 pounds because of trauma and I've lost a lot but still I always struggled with the why am I getting government benefits paying for the food I'm addicted to while there's literally people dying of malnutrition everywhere and that guilt is kind of part of why I developed an eating disorder and attempted suicide several times

Whelp, come to the US. The land where a lot of people choose to be obese and want you punished for discrimination if you don't want to date them.

The solution is eat the rich!

All of his songs that say rich men are his Suttle way of always referring to the DC politicians!!

Yes, some people chose to be obese.

He speaks TRUTH that needs to be heard / said and in my heart that's what's causing the goosebumps/tears! The TRUTH is pissing off the guilty who have a lifetime of undetected criminal activity!!! Now imagine being a veteran and finding out they used you under the false pretenses of defending freedom to pillage around the world??? This is another great song ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0eNNTM7TDw0.html Semper Fi

It's not only people eating too much but it's the cheap processed modern food that people, especially people with little money and nutrition education that causes overweight people.

I've always found the phrase ''people like you' to be a trigger. When do we become people like you? I was always intelligent in school but didn't succeed in my career due to GAD. So I became ''people like you''. And it feels like being $#@!@ed on from great heights. I think Universal Basic Income maybe a good solution to the failings of our current corporate capitalism model.

Let me tell you Doc, he’s speaking to the millennial existentialist. Specifically, the generation that grew up ostensibly bridging the gap of racism and misogyny more than ever in the 90s and early 2000’s. When he says “new world” I believe he’s coining a philosophical term without necessarily giving its definition to his audience. Of course, when we hear New World, we all know exactly what he’s talking about. It may be relative, it almost certainly is, but the new world isn’t working for any of us. Why has my generation turned to drug so heavily, and not only embraced it, but celebrated as a culture. I’m no Saint, I find my peace at the bottom of a bowl of weed and constant meditation and reading of philosophy and theological commentaries. Like Chris (Oliver), I have a very difficult time, believing that man has any insight into the divine. Unlike Chris, I just can’t accept Christianity. I do believe in a benevolent, higher power. I just don’t think Jesus anything to do with him beyond being a creation of the boiling over of His essence like the rest of us. Jesus made some wonderful juxtapositions to the old Jewish way of thinking of “protecting thyself“ to “love one another“. That was pretty damn radical at the time. Diogenes would’ve been proud of the things Jesus said outside of his attaching it to theosophy. To me, Oliver is and unpolished and colloquial Appalachian version of Soren Kierkegaard, or even Blaise pascal though on a much less self-torturous level.

You made the food thing more complicated than it has to be. Yes, there’s is a psychological element to over eating, but all he is saying is food stamps (government funds for food) shouldn’t go towards that type of food, which just makes them more unhealthy and raises health costs.

Hay Doc, First off I enjoyed your breakdown but it’s not about paying welfare as much as it is giving our taxes that enables the obese to remain obese by not making sure they have nutrients to promote good healthy habits. Our foods companies hidden agenda are corporations putting in ingredients that actually cause addiction to the foods and or out right poison us. You might want to check out why other countries don’t allow certain things be put into processed foods like America does. What’s that song ”Killing You Softly “ I’m just finding out about some of this, so I’m no expert. But it is staggering what is being done to us. Not good!

I believe you are overthinking some of the songs imagery. "folks in the street ain't got nothing to eat, and the obese milking welfare" is about the contrast. It points to the people in power doing nothing to actually solve either problem.

Sorry some of your conclusion of things I do not agree with.

Did this guy just say no one chooses to be obese? 🤣🙄🤦🏿‍♂

the bit about "obese milking welfare" really bothers me. imo just randomly punching down kind of undermines the idea that this is a ballad for the everyman. especially when he talks about others kicking folks down in the very same verse. Not very self aware.

the first Chris makes about coal man miners, the second is about minors on Epstein Island .

I’m not sure how well you know the states but Richmond Virginia is just short of Washington DC where the White House is and almost all the politicians live in three of the top 10 richest counties in the United States are in Virginia the richest included, where most of the politicians live that have the peoples best interest in mind and not lining their own pockets 😉 🤫 by the way. So just a highlight a couple things for you there’s a line that ruffled many feathers where he talks about politicians. We need to look out for minors not just minors on an island somewhere. That’s a Jeffrey Epstein dig, where lots of wealthy people with power were complacent or encouraging or even partaking and going to this island where under age, girls and boys were brought for the pleasure of the adults you know I’m saying! His name can be googled with plenty of information. So another words look out for people risking their lives to give us coal instead of your sick sexual tendencies.. and the line about the obese milking welfare for the fudge rounds is more a testament to the system being set up for lazy people to take advantage of it and receive more benefits for being indigent and lazy than there are hard-working middle-class or lower middle-class people such as Oliver. You often get EBT cards with a certain amount of money on it depending on how many children you have more children, more money and many times these people get free housing and free food and then these EBT cards they will sell to other people for $.50 on the dollar And buy booze or cigarettes, drugs, etc. so it’s more about the system being and encouraging people to milk the welfare system than work!

I think the key to Oliver's powerful ballad is spelled out in the title "Rich Men North of Richmond" Virginia. Rage against the U.S. government in Washington, "North of Richmond." The song has racist undertones when he refers to the poor (black) people doing nothing, existing on Welfare while he and other real Americans still have to work. The issues behind this ballad are as old as American segregation with Richmond being the Capital of the Confederacy.

You should listen to Billy braggs response to this song, rich men earning North of a million, it deals with the songs defeatist rhetoric and victim blaming. Oliver Anthony have the outrage and talent for songwriting but lacks analysis of the situation and wisdom. Without any real solution except kicking down its just a long and elaborate whinefest.

Yes people DO choose to be OBESE AND LAZY in America. We work and pay for it all through our taxes. Welfare is being manipulated horribly here. 😉

I agree that welfare should pay for treatment of obesity.

Anither cowardly reaction totally ignoring the "minors on an island" line.

i think he fell into the trap. He agreed to work for low pay and expects some politician to save him.