Rebuttal to Rich Men North of Richmond in New Song about Getting Along with Others
When I heard that “Rich Men North of Richmond” by Oliver Anthony had been embraced by many Republicans and conservative commentators as an angry cry against corporate, political elites, and welfare recipients and shot to the top of Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, I was truly surprised. It’s in the tradition of protest songs from the folksinger Woodie Guthrie, as it presents a dire picture of rich men and politicians who take advantage of the poor who are struggling to survive.
I felt it was too negative and hopeless, which inspired me to write a new song in rebuttal to this grim reaper picture of society. The song is Get Along Guy, which presents a more positive way of seeking love and hope by people learning to get along with each other and create a more peaceful world. It features different ways of helping others and creating a better society, along with a chorus that echoes this sentiment:
I’m a get-along guy in a get-along land.
Always like to please, ready to lend a hand.
I feel your blues and never just stand by,
’Cause I try to be a get-along guy.
My hope is that this might be embraced by others as a response to ‘Rich Men North of Richmond” by showing that things can change and create a better fairer society in the future with a new shift in attitude.
The song is featured on YouTube on the Changemakers Music channel at https://youtu.be/GZuGqj9xlq0.
It’s a message for everyone to reach out and help others, including those down on their luck, rather than just expressing outrage about the problems of inequality. It’s a call for those who can to act, rather than relying on the politicians to make new laws, because everyone individually can take steps to get along and help others.
After I wrote the lyrics, it was recorded by John Covert, who wrote the music and with whom I have written over 100 songs featured on the Changemakers Music YouTube channel. Besides Get Along Guy, I have recently begun a series of songs that feature a call for peace in a troubled world, including Let Me Have Peace, a song asking for peace in a time of great turmoil in society. It describes the many problems we are facing, such as wars, hurricanes, fires, floods, fear, divisions between neighbors, homeless people in the streets, crime, a changing climate, and more. The song is like a plea for peace and a renewal to find a new future in a world without fear. The link to the song is at https://youtu.be/iMdlf85d_sM
I am hopeful that these songs can inspire people to work together to seek peace to help heal today’s troubled world, since songs can be a way for people to express their hopes and aspirations. I hope by writing these songs, people will feel motivated to join together to look for peaceful solutions, so people can live more harmoniously together in individual relationships, communities, and in countries around the world. Perhaps there could even be a “Get Along” Day to remind people to think of different things they can do to get along better with others and help them.
For more information, contact my company: Changemakers Publishing and Writing at www.changemakerspublishingandwriting.com.
Gini Graham Scott
Changemakers Publishing and Writing
San Ramon, CA 94583
(925) 804–6333
www.changemakerspublishingandwriting.com
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Gini Graham Scott, Ph.D. is the author of over 50 books with major publishers and has published 200 books through her company Changemakers Publishing and Writing (http://www.changemakerspublishingandwriting.com). She writes books, proposals, and film scripts for clients, and has written and produced 18 feature films and documentaries, including Conned: The True Story and Con Artists Unveiled¸ distributed by Gravitas Ventures. (http://www.changemakersproductionsfilms.com). Her latest books include Ghost Story and How to Find and Work with a Good Ghostwriter published by Waterside Productions; The Big Con, I Was Scammed, and Love and Sex in Prison, published by American Leadership Press; and Ask the AI Wizard, published by J. Michael Publishing