Today I Tried Country Music... Steve Earle Copperhead Road (First Reaction!!) 

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This is not a country song, This is a Southern rock song.

I always considered Copperhead Road as Rockabilly, not country.🤷‍♀️ LOVE THIS CLASSIC!!🔥🔥🔥

This ain't country this is badass all day long Its called Southern Rock

Written and performed by Steve Earle! Rockabilly!

This is definitely a Steve Earle original. He's one of the most prolific songwriters of his time and genre.

Steve Earle is way more than country. He's a punk, he's a minstrel, he's a troubadour.

Appalachian music can trace its roots directly to Ireland and Scotland, because a lot of the people who live there are direct descendants of Irish and Scottish settlers. They took up residence in the hills and mountains because it reminded them of home, and their musical traditions sort of blended together. If you compare Appalachian music to Irish and Scottish folk music, you can hear the common influences. That's what I think Steve was getting at by having the song open with bagpipes.

Best line ever my brother! "I tried moonshine once and that's how I got a beard"! Straight truth there!

That "banjo sound" was actually a mandolin.

Steve Earle is a legend.

This is a blend of country, celtic folk, blues and rock. Awesome song!

I'm from the Appalachian area (East TN) and this song is a literal anthem around here. I'm 32 now, I've known and sang this song since I was in diapers. My 2 yr old knows it well. You still hear it blaring out of beat up old trucks in the Walmart parking lots filled with teenagers in dirty blue jeans lol. It also rings true for most of us. Most of us have personal experience or close relatives who ran/run whiskey through KY, we live right at the KY state line. It will never get old, I'm sure it will be around for generations to come, at least in our area. I'm currently in a wormhole watching reactions to older country songs I know not many people still listen to. I am loving seeing people who don't typically listen to country enjoy this music, and see what we see in these songs. Great video, keep it up, Polo!

I don't consider this country - it's just an all time kickass tune. I've loved it since it was released.

never thought of this as country...just rock-n-roll

My favorite line is “ I learned a thing or to from Charlie don’t you know you better stay away from copperhead road” meaning he learned from Charlie who was the north Vietnamese nickname how to booby trap his weed crop. Always thought that was a clever line.

“I’ve tried moonshine before. That’s how I got a beard.” Love it !!!

He tells the story of the past, with the music of the past.. the bagpipes. As the story moves to present, you get the bridge and ROCK. It was beautifully crafted.

I've got a cousin with a Copperhead Rd. sign that I lost a coin toss on when we got it. I've been bitter about it for 30 years lol. We used to cruise around Johnson County back when that was a thing

This genre is more Outlaw Country or Southern Rock than straight Country. No matter how you want to label it, Steve Earle is amazing and all his music is kickass.

Musically, it's not Country. Lyrically, it's a powerful country truth. Steve Earle did indeed write this song. He's considered a master songwriter.

This is considered 'outlaw country'. A little rougher than your basic country twang/pop stuff. Steve is one of the best songwriters around regardless of the genre.

Love this song! It has a special meaning to me. I'm in my early sixties and my paternal grandfather passed away when I was 7 years old. We called him Grandpa Moon. Everyone in our tiny little town called him Moon. I never thought much about it until about 6 months before my dad passed away. (Dad was 82 when he was called Home.) My brother and I were asking him questions about our family and I finally asked him why Grandpa was called Moon. Dad said "He and your great granddad were moonshiners. That's how they fed us ." Grandpa came home from WW1 and soon had 3 little boys and a wife to take care of. Dad said that, especially during Prohibition, running shine paid better than anything else in the area. Dad also said Grandpa hated the government making and whiskey was his way of giving government the middle finger.

"him and my uncle tore that engine down, I still remember that rumbling sound" If you've ever been near a big block dodge running straight off the manifold you know exactly the sound he's referring to. It is unforgettable.

Steve Earle oh my word! Everyone here in East Tennessee knows this song . I have been a fan of his for years. He is a true artist with his music. I am so happy to see you & others checking out music I grew up listening to or bands that I went to see in concert during my high school days and beyound. You should check out more of Steve's music. It does not disappoint. Promise. Blessings to you & thank you again . 🙏🙏🙏

I always loved the line “wake up screaming like I’m back over there.” referring to the DEA chopper triggering his PTSD.

For those of you who say this isn’t country….. you have obviously never heard of outlaw country!!! This is definitely outlaw country!!! It came out my senior year in high school. I was country when country wasn’t cool, back in the 80’s. One of my favorite songs ever!!!

Steve did write this song. It references a road in Johnson County, Tennessee called Copperhead Road. They had to take the street sign because people kept stealing it.

This is a history lesson. Definitely a " picture" of life in Appalachia. Pure pride!!

This is heavy metal bluegrass! LOL

I love how you are open to different music without dismissing just because it’s outta’ your box

First time I drank, I had Shine. Smooth! I'm a WVa girl!💙💛 Scottish Heritage!

Nope- Steve Earle wrote this song! The string sound you said, “banjo” is a mandolin. Love this song🔥🔥🔥🔥

My great grandfather was a moonshiner in the 1800's, had a secret compartment under the kitchen floor. Loved this song before ever knowing that family tidbit ❤

This wasn't played on Country stations in Atlanta, it was played on Rock stations. Have played it a few times in clubs when we had a mandolin player. People love it if you do it well, but will walk out if you do it poorly.

Steve Earle is an incredible artist. I love that he also stands firmly against capital punishment. That's something that most country artists would keep under their hats, but not him.

Steve Earle is another one that you cannot put inside a box! The way he blends all styles of music together and with his electric mandolin, I don't think there is anyone out there like him! Another favorite of mine by him is Galway Girl!! Great reaction to one of my all time favorite songs, thank you Polo!!

Mandolin, Polo.... you should try the Dead South. They are from Canada but are worth a listen.

Thank you for taking the time to Hear to all kinds of Music young man. I am over 60, retired, served in 1978, in the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry in Canada..(.became a Hippie May 4th 1970 but was never a pacifist)... I cannot begin to tell you the Joy it brings me to watch as the Music that shook me to my soul, back in the late 60/70/80's hit folks with the intensity now as it hit me and my friends then. Keep your ears and your heart open to Music and keep the reactions coming...I i want to tell you what you are doing matters...more than you know right now. Peace Love and Hope from Ontario Canada for you and for your Nation which is in such turmoil right now...

Steve Earle wrote every song he sang including this one.

Steve Earl is one of the all time greatest Rockabilly singers out there.Guitar Town is another great from him.Not a lot of Rockabilly guys left.Interesting fact about the instrument at the beginning it's actually a Herdegerde and a lot of folks mistake it for bagpipes

The song plays out each persons story. In the beginning its mellow because music was a lot more mellow back in the days of his granddad, in the 2nd part about his father it picks up a little bit and then when it switches to him, is when it becomes full on rock...this song is brilliant.

Earle's first big hit; he wrote it. I'm a big Steve Earle fan. Great songwriter and true troubador. He has a huge list of hit songs. When he was a teen, he ran away from home and lived for a time with Townes Van Zandt (another great songwriter).

Just want to say I love you song reviews. I'm a 70 yo woman living in New Zealand and I came across some of your reviews a couple of weeks ago. Really enjoy your style and reviews. Keep it going- knowledgeable and well spoken.

I've always liked the bagpipes switch sound killer when used in good context like here

That beat your hearing is a Celtic Tune, and Steve’s playing a Mandolin in the beginning, that’s what sounds like a Banjo, but I could tell you were getting into the rhythm, it’s been one of my favorites ever since it came out, I actually heard it on the radio one morning just as I was parking at work, I had to sit and listen to the whole song before going into the plant, then after I got off work, I headed straight to the local Album Store, Waxworks was the name of it, a combination Head Shop Album Store, and that’s where we always got our tickets to the upcoming Concerts that we were going to, there was a famous Radio Station in those days called KC-103, all they played was Rock from the 60’s and 70’s and what was coming out at that time, 1981, well by the end of the 80’s and going into the 90’s we had MTV and videos that were being played 24/7 that’s when the Album Stores were starting to lose money due to the age of the computers and the internet with its hijacking’s of all the music past and present, bands album sales dropped, people sold their separate component stereo systems and got their music from their computers, and it was free, although I never got into that scene, there’s just something about listening to a great album with the hiss and pops that it made between songs, I did add a CD Player to my system, I’ve updated it as much as possible over the years, but I’m still a fan of albums, I’ve got over 500 albums of everything from Hard Rock to The band that made the song during the 70’s Rollercoaster, Black Cherry I believe was their name, Rick James, Jimmy Hendrix, and the godfather of it all James Brown, Genesis and Phil Collins etc. Leon Russell was a favorite of mine, I actually got to go backstage and meet him when I was just 12 years old, my dad took me to my first concert, Leon was the coolest guy I thought I’d ever met, I sat down on his piano bench and he sat next to me for my father to take a photograph, it’s been enlarged and framed, still hanging on my dad’s music room, he used to photograph bands during the early and late 70’s, he was the one that introduced me to some of the best bands and singer/songwriters of the era, and I’ve got the photos of me either standing by them, I had a great childhood with many memories that it took me until I was a grown adult to really understand just how lucky I had been as a kid and teenager going to concerts with my buddies, but the best memories were the ones that I had with my father, who passed away in 2013, May he Rest in Peace, Leon Russell has also passed away from us, but his music will always be remembered and played by the people who were his diehard fans, take a listen to his music, he totally changed the country/gospel/pop rock music forever, he was the inspiration for Elton John, who was instrumental in getting Leon inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,

Southern rock. Steve Earl wrote and recorded, the album Copperhead Rd was released in 1988.

I lived about 45 miles from Boones Mill, VA - the moonshine capital of the U.S. Making moonshine is no joke. Drinking it is even more dubious.

Very prophetic, that's how the world is becoming.

Country and folk were the means of storytelling and passing down folk tales. Many Southern Rock songs incorporate that tradition.

Steve Earle wrote this song!!!!

If you’re from the upper south, anywhere around the Appalachian mountains, this hits like it’s the song of your people. I guess because it is.

I'm from Appalachia. I live around 2 hours from the "Johnson County" he mentioned, in TN. The first part of the song is more country influenced, due to it being about shine. Then the rebellious rock comes in when he talks about war and weed. My Grandpa ran and made shine for years.

This is a country -rock hybrid. Whatever you call it, it's a certified banger. I wish there was more music like this today.

I've tried moonshine before...and thats how i got a beard, SO classic made me LOL, thanks.

Steve Earle is one of the best song writers of his generation. Was good friends with the late great Townes Van Zant. Check out "Guitar Town"

Welcome to the eighties, so many bands, so much music we had to choose , I cannot imagine a better time to grow up in

Dedicated life long Metalhead, but this song is special. Steve once referred to it as “Country Metal” when trying to explain the sound. I’ve always heard it called “Outlaw Country”. Apparently a lot of true country music people frowned on it.

I saw a solo acoustic performance by Steve Earle in a small theatre. First, it needs to be known he is at least as much a song writer as he is a performer. His music is an emotion. A mood.

I consider this rock more than country. Definitely a Classic that will live forever the test of time. Them instrumentals. Goosebumps

"Copperhead Road" was indeed written by Steve Earle. The song was started while he was in a Dallas jail.

Steve Earle is an incredible singer-songwriter. His music spans the border of country and rock and is often classified as 'Americana'.

Love that I found this reaction while drinking moonshine! Great work Sir.

I believe this is southern rock. One of my favorites actually. it was fun to see your shocked reaction. Thanks!

Traditional folk-Country -Rock fusion

I love this song, in fact I love the whole album. I was a teenager living in New Zealand and this was the second concert I ever went to…with my parents and brothers in Auckland’s old Town Hall. Epic memories…and this is categorically country. Country Bluegrass with a smidge of Country Rock…influenced by Celtic (Scottish and Irish) music. ❤❤❤

About twenty years ago, I was a restaurant manager in TN, but wasn't from there. The kitchen manager offered to take me to his parents' house for Thanksgiving and I accepted. Fifteen minutes before we got to their house, the road turned into an unmarked dirt road and stayed that way all the way to his parents' house. After we arrived, there was a giant five car open garage and a house. Snacks were set out in the garage. After I met all of my friend's family, his dad took a shine to me and invited me into the main house to see his dining cabinet full of homemade moonshine. We took some tastes and then I found out the giant 'Gatorade' coolers in the garage were Moonshine punch. Many hours later, when we were all moonshine drunk, they asked me to play music for them from my car speakers. I had a brand new Zune (at the time), but the only country-esque song i had on there was Copperhead Road, so I played that one. They loved it so much, they had me put it on repeat for over an hour. Since that day, I have never owned an mp3 player or phone that doesn't have this song on the memory card, JUST IN CASE.

I appreciate that you read the lyrics before you listen to the song. Makes your reaction much better imo. Vast majority of these songs are done by the artist that you are seeing. Also, almost all of these songs are not autotuned or other monkey business. You say that you prefer live to be sure about that, but you don't have to worry about that with these songs. : )

When you see 50+ high school seniors jump up and run to the dance floor when this comes on… yeah it’s a classic line dance song LOL

This is in my top 5 songs all time. Love it. Fantastic story, Steve Earle can flat out WRITE

Steve wrote the song! He owns this, no matter who tries to sing it!

Regardless of the song genre, this is one of the best recorded songs in terms of tones: the guitar has a perfect blend of crunch and twang, the drums are clear and punchy and still have enough bottom end. The bass sits right where it's supposed to. The folks that tracked, engineered, mixed, and mastered this did an outstanding job that has withstood the test of time.

You gotta love the Celtic theme that still carries over today. Thats why genres like blue grass still sound like that. If you like old country with stories, I’d recommend Marty Robbins. Big iron and El Paso are popular.

It's a mandolin not a banjo this song is a cross over. This is the original and still preformed by Steve Earl to my knowledge

I don't think this ever classified as country, but I always enjoy seeing people enjoy music they never thought they would indulge in.

Steve Earle, the performer, wrote the song and it has become one of his biggest hits, ever. If you like what you hear, listen to another of his called "Guitar Town". He's considered by many in the music idustry to be one of America's greatest and most prolific songwriters.

You need to get out to a country bar and watch when this song comes on. It's quite an experience.

Jamey Johnson's High Cost of Living is an example of kind of Outlaw Country. As some have pointed out, this is kind of Americana Rock/Southern Rock. Whatever the genre, it's an amazing song and I'm glad you reacted to this!

I like the line"Learned a thing or two from Charlie don't you know. You better stay away from copperhead road." Charlie referring to the Vietcong.

I have loved this song for years! It never gets old. This tells a great story as well.

Hey, this is my first time listening to one of your reactions. I did it mainly because I'm a fan of the song. But I liked your comments and style so I gave you a like and subscribed.

Released in 1988, covered by many different people. Used as soundtrack in various films,tv shows and copied for different adverts. Sometimes also described as hard rock. It kicks ass !

Just caught your Steve Earle 'Copperhead Road' review - the song was written by Steve, he was a Rock singer and now in his later years is listed as Folk, Country, Rock. Best description would be Outlaw Country. He is alive and still performing.

Love this song. Great to see you branching out.

This isn't Country music, it goes much deeper than that and is called Americana music, which is one of the best things going in modern music.

this entire album was excellent!

I would say this is just good old rock n roll with a Southern twist as opposed country. I have to say your reaction is great....absolutely spot on with a sense of humour👍👍.....have you checked out " Battleship Chains" by The Georgia Satellites.....its a classic.

Country celtic rock. That's what this is.

More rockabilly, but definitely some country influence. His Guitar Town album was a lot closer to country but still kind of rockabilly. I’m biased because I’m a huge Volbeat fan but they bridge the gap pretty damn well with ‘ Sad Mans Tongue’ 🤘✌️

Steve Earl wrote this song and recorded this song in 1988, it is an original

It’s not country it’s old southern rock😊

Thank you for your patience and lack of yack.

Just made my First trip to East TN. Drove Appalachia Maryville, around Gatlinburg, and into NC, then Tail of the Dragon (in a grandma car) cant wait to return in 2025

I am old enough to remember that V-8 rumbling sound Mr. Earle told us about. Musical in itself.

Still one of grandma's faves❤ peace ✌️ Polo ❤

"And that's how I got a beard." Hahaha! Rim shot, please! One of the funniest off-the-cuff lines I've heard in a long time!!!

That's a mandolin, it's very popular in Blue Grass. Agin he's a rule breaker this is rock and roll. With a southern touch. And this story would make a awesome movie. I definitely appreciate your take and input.

First time on your Channel defini🙂👍tely worth a subscription and a like.

We call it outlaw country down here in Texas. Ty for listening. Many of us have and do live this. It is Americana.

Amazing the whole STORY that would make a NOVEL just from several lyrics that told soooooo much with a few words! Earl paints quite the family history and history in each line, very deep, very good with leading you to see so much without saying a lot.