The “Rich Men North of Richmond” Phenomenon 

This song really hits different, the every day blue collar man feels this deeply. Left, Right, or Center, it doesn't matter. We are all fed up.

Imagine a man that put something original out and was offered millions and he turned it down but many people noticed it and decided to capitalize off his fame. He just sang his heart out to speak to America's heart. God bless this man.

I believe that it's about time for an update on Oliver Anthony after he topped the Billboard HOT 100 and also came out against Republican politicians and others trying to use him.

Just had a thought here. Would love to see Grady interview this guy. Let him say his piece and get him in front of the camera. He seems like a genuinely nice and intelligent individual.

This song is beautiful and I'm so glad Oliver Anthony is getting his flowers, he wrote one of the most real and relatable songs I've ever heard and it's awesome that it's resonated so much with the public. Can't wait to see where his career goes from here!

I just think that it has a beautiful beat, the storyline is there and it reaches out, and the vocals is haunting; all in all it's a truly great song. You could tell it's Indy and not being spouted out by these big labels. That's why I'm listening to more more Indy music, so thank you Grady for that.

An actual country artist singing a genuine protest song. I’m sure Grady’s subreddit will absolutely despise it

Grady, my respect for you has skyrocketed seeing you cover this. Very well done, as well. Love it.

I have grown to really enjoy this genre in the last 2 years. Love this series. He killed the song, his vocals were awesome.

Oliver Anthony actually lives across the street from my grandparents and my parents went to his garage sale 😂

Social media is helping lots of independent artists make it without the label… love it

i've never clicked on or looked for a country song except for one suggestion several years ago. to have this show up on my youtube feed for 3 days straight until i finally caved and listened to it says something about how many it's reaching. and i absolutely loved it btw.

Classic Grady eloquence at 4:12: "...He...writes like a novelist...rich men north of Richmond has assonance and consonance...it works...miners and minors, playing on that homophone to make a very provocative point...it works..." Enjoyed listening to your perspective, as usual.

I've been waiting for this one!

Best advice I've ever heard? met Erv Woolsey once and he told me "Money doesnt matter, ya can't beat a good song"

I actually feel a bit bad for Ollie here. I listened to his other stuff (I’ve got to get sober is his best imo) and it’s not political. He is not an industry plant. He is just a working class guy who like everyone else is pissed at everything going on. Songs aren’t meant to be essays on policy, they’re a vehicle for feelings. This guy is pissed so he sang what he felt. Like Grady said, later on you cool down and think logically. But he is being labeled as ‘right wing’ when the dude very clearly is going after bipartisan issues

The song debut at number 45 on the mainstream country radio charts. That is without any record label pushing it. The radio stations are picking it up, especially the Independent stations. Many of the independent radio stations have been playing more of the Independent artists than corporate stations.

This is modern blues, pure and raw emotion.

I think it’s a bit unfortunate that people are saying this is a “right wing anthem”.. its nothing like that.

I don't care if you are right or left. This song isn't polarizing in the sense of what political line you align with more. Everyone in America should agree that our government as a whole is broken. Our priorities as a country are out of whack. This is a well written song, sang even better. I look forward to seeing this rise as he is a true talent. I am sure he has a lot more to say and I am glad he is getting a platform to express it!

This song and artist reminds me of the song “Pills and Poverty” by Tim Goodin about how the mining jobs left the Appalachia region (especially West Virginia) and the drugs and crime came and took over. Another powerful message in song…

Fair analysis, Grady. While I wasn't doing backflips over the song, I do think it is a wonderful song with a powerful message played subtly in a few lines of clever lyrics with a strong voice. I was more excited to hear of s good new artist who is DIY, but then it blew up and all my buds are sharing the video with me. By Sunday it was everywhere, which was shocking to me.

Just discovered your channel, brother - great insights on this great song! Thanks for giving us your thoughts on Country Music. 👍👍

3:05 "attacking the system of welfare" -- welfare recipients have been attacked my whole life and I'm currently older than dirt. (It used to be the so-called "welfare queens" that drew the most criticism.) I'm sure there are abuses; all systems have weak points where abuse can occur. I'm also sure there are people who have little or no choice, for whom welfare is a life-line. I am sad that Mr. Oliver chose to include that lyric because I think it diverts attention from the rest of the song, where he is speaking truth to power.

He’s gonna be a legend

Biggest overnight sensation since Susan Boyle. Amazing.

first time listener! great commentary - a new fan of your channel. think you nailed what Oliver Anthony can expect from the culture warriors...so let's keep him at the top..

Here we are a few months later and it's at 92 million views!

I always love hearing your perspective! Thank you for this great video, Grady! 😊

This is my kind of music. The lyrics are great, the bluegrassy tone is beautiful, and just his sound is awesome. So excited to see more from him and glad he's getting prominent recognition.

Let it be a bridge not a wall. Very well said, I wish more people had that sentiment.

RUSTED BED by songwriter Dennis Callahan

This is a great song. Kudos to Oliver Anthony. There was a time when social "awareness" songs were the thing (e.g. Buffalo Springfield's For What It's Worth) but that went away. There seems to be somewhat of a renaissance of such songs. An indy songwriter that I follow, Alan Grattan, has a couple that seem to fit this bill - "Changin' Times" and "There's A New Teneant". Well worth a listen IMHO.

Grady using Curvis Yarvin's term "the Cathedral" to describe the modern bureaucracy was not on my bingo card. Great to see these terms go mainstream

Just shared this on Facebook. Like always, you have a great way analizying a song, so more need to hear it.

It's been said that John Rich has offered his studio to Oliver to produce an actual album!

Wow this was such a great take. Good stuff Grady!!

I appreciate the song for being a traditional song for the working man and the disenfranchised, becuase that's what the best country music has alwasy been. But the tropes and almost conspiracy theories he puts forth with the "Minors", Welfare Abuse and Fudge Rounds lines are the same things spouted forth by those same "Rich Men North of Richmond". I feel like he contradicts his earlier points.

Grady, I respect you a lot, but that analysis at 3:02 is a stretch and a half. He's criticizing the fact that welfare goes to people who he thinks don't deserve it (i.e. fat people). He's toeing what has been the party line on welfare since the Reagan administration started talking about welfare queens.

Oliver looks suspiciously like Grady after “a series of episodes”!

As a Swiftie, I was so embarrassed by the meltdown and classiest BS the Taylor Swift subreddit was having about how he is blocking Cruel Summer from going number one 🙄 Great take as always, Grady!

2:10 OH…see I had been seeing lyric videos interpreting BOTH parts of that line as “minors” and thought he meant something very different in terms of ‘looking out for minors’, appreciate the clear up

Great song and a great message that really speaks to the moment we are in. He’s raw and brings the truth

I think the song is well-intentioned and lyrically is creative and powerful. I do think he SLIGHTLY missed the mark on who the actual enemy is. It isn’t the people on welfare, and honestly, it isn’t even the politicians (for the most part). It’s the rich people that buy the control of the politicians and the system that allows that to happen. But it is amazing that something can become this big this fast.

Oliver Anthony's song has lyrics with content, which is what country fans crave to hear. It combines the power of protest lyrics with a sound that resonates with a wide range of people. The song's not perfect, but his beard fits the atmosphere of the song.

He is a symbol of revolution though... it's sort of undeniable and unavoidable. People are absolutely fed up and that is why this song is doing what it's doing, aside from obviously the fact that he's an incredibly gifted artist.

I appreciate a lot of what you have said here. Here's my beef with the idea that this is a "Pressure Valve" release for a class of people who feel they have been left out by wealthy bureaucrats who don't give a damn about them and that this isn't about right or left but about the top-down: The voting data over the past 40+ years is clear-- The people on both sides, but MOSTLY on one particular side, who hate wealthy bureaucrats who don't give a damn about them, continue to vote, year after year, in local, state, and federal elections, for wealthy bureaucrats who don't give a damn about them. What is clear to me is that the "wealthy bureaucrat who doesn't give a damn about the common man" is actually a proxy for the overweight people buying fudge rounds with food stamps. People who, by the way, have more in common with the angry "common man" than the angry "common man" wants to believe. I know he's singing about both, and people who love the song are supporting the sentiment of anger against both, but I know with a good degree of certainty who those people will be voting for in the next election, and it may not be a wealthy bureaucrat who doesn't give a damn about them, but it will certainly be a wealthy conman who doesn't give a damn about them.

He’s speaking truth, it’s a raw scream of the frustration people have to endure at the hands of a few big cities.

New world, old soul… love it! Yes Sir! Congrats on your new home!

He writes a song about the “Rich Men North of Richmond” ripping everyone off but then goes on and on in it about how, no, it's actually the poor people making it harder on poor people... Wut?

I'm not sure who would defend the DC crowd other than the elites. I heard about this song from leftists who loved it. Conservatives love it. It really speaks to people.

So crazy and so good! Congratulations to him!

You are hitting the nail on the head with this commentary. How did you get in my head?

Seeing redditors talk about Oliver makes me absolutely flabbergasted that some of these people are able to go out in public. Like you mentioned, the stuff they come up with is crazy wild and some even have a deep hatred of him like he made the song about them. Anyways, good video.

Thanks Grady for once again updating me on what's going on on the music scene over the pond!

Love the chair painting updates Grady

Always love when a fellow Virginia native gets some shine. He’s speaking facts and representing us Virginians proudly

“Ain’t Got a Dollar” my jam

This song reminds me of Working Class Hero - written by John Lennon and performed by Lennon on a resonator

This song is such a banger

It’s the new Take This Job and Shove it

industry plug

Yes there’s right wing sentiments you can point at but also left wing. I firmly believe the song resonated as much as it did because it isn’t calling out one side or ideology. And just the corrupt system and the fear and uncertainty of this nation. In the end we’re just human. And this song brings out those universal emotions and truths in us

Called it 😂

Just hit 10 million.

Man, I am amazed at how this song reflects my feelings of the government Right now! A Patriot that loves my country, serving in the military for 25 years, now with a broken heart. I am saddened by our country's standings globally. Seeing the leadership decay away our financial security, national and personal, makes me sick to my stomach! "Richest Nation On Earth", not for long citizens, you get what you vote for. I commend his attitude and commitment to what's right! Calling 'em like you see 'em bro. 🎉

write a song about painting your chair and then finding a less work chair at the same store within a week. make it a metaphor!

Great analysis, but wouldn’t expect anything less. Thanks Grady

Great song.

Could’ve sworn Grady was the one singing

such a great song. absolutely beautiful and an amazing job by oliver!

It’s a great song! The themes hit hard because they feel real

This is his peak. He can't make any other country song now after this.

After 9 days the original video is at 21 million views and #1 on trending still.

You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive reminds me of this entire deal too.

He looks a little like you Grady!!

The sad thing is I doubt the rich men north of Richmond will ever hear this, or they'll just laugh at it because nothing will change

This song is gonna be anylyzed in history classes in 50 years.

I was hoping you’d make a video on this.

This isn’t a protest song really, it’s an astroturf anthem putting the blame on the wrong people. He sounds great but the message is toxic

I saw Matt Walsh post about it on my feed and I face palmed.

This song hit me in my heart, it is genuinely how I feel .

I think its like 70vmillion views now.

Great analysis. You did a great job neatly stepping through the politics here - real skill!

Oliver’s picture will go in the dictionary right next to the phrase “broke the internet “!

Please let this be the start of the end of the pop country music industry…

This song is good and relates to many regardless of political leaning though it does lean right of center. Another some I have been enjoying is “If I Were the Devil” by Colby Acuff. Have a listen, it causes you to pause and think.

Flying to go see his shows. Bruh lmao

I tend to agree ... I think it's a centrist song at its core. I think it's a stinging criticism of the powers that be and, honestly, it's a song that's needed right now. Because both sides of the aisle are not representing we the people. I think it's an incredible song delivered with a passion that is on the level of Tyler Childers and Sturgill Simpson. As for the coming culture war over this song ... this video barely beat it. Saving Country Music did an article all about that earlier today. It's going to get worse. Funny thing is I feel sorry for this guy and what he's about to go through. In my mind (and I could CLEARLY be wrong) this is just a guy from Virginia who lives on a farm, has good song-writing skills and a powerful voice and delivery that has caught on in a moment begging for a song like this. His world is going to be completely turned upside down, and he may never recover from it. I hope that's not the case and this guy can go back to doing what he loves because he loves it.

Great analysis 👍

Grady telling it like it is. Just cuz you heard it on a podcast or reaction video that already fits your agenda, he doesn’t really side with anyone in this song. It’s a good song with a great delivery in that acoustic performance.

I have been moved by this song more than ANYTHING I can recently remember. I really don’t think there’s been anything like this, I’m going to hold to some hope that this going all genres # 1 is a sign that folks are waking up. Protect this man at all costs! 🫨🫢

Well grady, I’ve been up all night and I think I’ve watched every video of yours dating back to 2021. Absolutely love your channel and taste in music dog, keep on trucking. Hope you love nashville!

Hmmmmm. I think Oliver almost gets it. But, when I see people trying to analyze lyrics for an artist I automatically assume that's poor writing. I honestly don't think you can interrupt the Fudge round line any other way. It was honestly, a poorly written line that actually highlights the issue that politicians are achieving which is "Direct your attention away from us and blame another set of people." You can interpret it any way you want but pointing out the weight and height of an individual for the 'shock' factor makes little since. I do think this is far better than Aldeans song which is very obviously rich with violent undertones and some false painting of a small town. Oliver is very much what you call a Libertarian. The issue. with that Libertarians live in a bubble of anti-government rhetoric that doesn't actually care about the little man as much as it reflects a very self-centered "I got mine go get your own" motto. So at times, it can be pretty disingenuous to go belly-aching about getting the short end of the stick when in reality as long as you're getting what you think you deserve then you're fine to see the less fortunate suffer. I don't see this as a protest song, a protest song isn't attacking the American public who also become victim to the Washington Elite. This is simply a song about another group of people who've been wronged by the elite but have also been convinced that it's someone else's fault too.

I have been waiting for you to bring this in!!! I value your opinion!! Thank you!!

We use to get songs like this from “outlaw country” artist and others in country music. People like Merle Haggards Working Man’s Blues, Hank Jr. Country Boy Can Survive and others. The little man’s feeling have never changed. But what was allowed to be talked about has been regulated. Oliver Anthony is saying the quite part out loud and people are saying, “FINALLY!!” Because they want to talk about it but have been told just to shut up and pipe down. You cannot keep quiet forever. People don’t like injustice.

Really shocked you haven't done a video on In Your Love by Tyler Childers yet

I can’t wait for your august new country music review because it will be jam packed!!!

Great points Grady! I love the song!

You have to listen to William Michael Morgan’s new single In Walked You. It’s so good