The world was stunned when Oliver Anthony’s song “Rich Men North of Richmond” became an overnight sensation on YouTube, garnering millions of views in just a few days. But what many don’t know is the horrifying reality behind the song’s popularity.
Rich Men North of Richmond has been uploaded to all major streaming platforms and will show up there in a few days.
Im still in a state of shock at the outpouring of love I've seen in the comments, messages and emails. I'm working to respond to everyone as quickly as possible. pic.twitter.com/iScaYp9AWQ
— Oliver Anthony (@AintGottaDollar) August 11, 2023
In a recent video update on his channel, Anthony spoke candidly about the message he was trying to convey in the song and the disturbing state of humanity that inspired it.
According to the country music star, the song itself is not a masterpiece because what makes the song resonate with people already exists within them. In fact, the song is merely a reflection of the deep-seated frustrations and anger that people feel towards the state of their country.
“But my question to you is with, when Oliver Anthony is long gone and forgotten about, what can you do in your own life to maintain this energy, this positivity, this unity that I see among people like I’ve never seen before?” Anthony asked. “What are the next steps to make life better for people? What can you do for your neighbor?”
Anthony’s message is a warning of the dire consequences of the rampant hate and divisiveness that have poisoned our society. He bemoaned how the sense of community within the country is dying, even within small towns.
“But humans have the ability to posses such overwhelming compassion. And it seems like we’ve really let ourselves focus on hate…We want to find reasons to hate each other. And I’m no Dr. Phil, but I just feel that in this moment in time when so many people are feeling the same frustrations, it would be wonderful to capitalize on that and just use that positive energy to help other people in your life,” he continued. “Maybe people that are different than you. People that you wouldn’t normally connect with.”
Anthony’s message is a call to action for all of us. He urges us to start thinking about what we can do to make a difference in our communities. To start doing overt acts of kindness to people to keep up the spirit of the message his songs.
The disturbing truth revealed by Oliver Anthony’s song should be a wake-up call for all of us. It’s time to put aside our differences and work towards a better future for all of us. Otherwise, we may be facing the end of our society as we know it.
