Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
These song lyrics are the latest dividing line in the culture wars:
“Sucker punch somebody on a sidewalk
“Carjack an old lady at a red light
“Pull a gun on the owner of a liquor store
“… Well, try that in a small town
“See how far ya make it down the road,” Jason Aldean sings.
Aldean’s critics include rocker Sheryl Crow.
“I’m from a small town,” Crow tweeted. “Even people in small towns are sick of violence. There’s nothing small-town or American about promoting violence. … This is not American or small town-like. It’s just lame.”
But Aldean denies he’s promoting violence.
“(W)hile I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music – this one goes too far,” he tweeted. ‘“Try That In A Small Town,’ for me, refers to the feeling of a community that I had growing up, where we took care of our neighbors, regardless of differences of background or belief.”
Country Music Television responded to the controversy by removing Aldean’s video from its airwaves.
Progressives applauded. Conservatives adopted the song as inspiration at their rallies.
Another fly turned into an elephant by politicians and their myrmidons.
Some of us are just confused.
Those who want to ban books seem to like the tune. Those who champion politically correct free speech seem to justify CMT’s censorship out of concern the words will spark violence in the streets.
Both groups have lost their minds.
First, country music has a long, comfortable relationship with justifiable violence. Ever hear Miranda Lambert’s “Gunpowder and Lead?” Kenny Rogers’ “Coward of the County?” Garth Brooks’ “The Thunder Rolls?”
If anything, those lyrics leave far less room for speculation about their characters’ actions than what Aldean has written.
Sucker punch somebody, car jack an old lady or pull a gun during a robbery and the people of a small town will … what? Call the cops? Write down a license plate? Post a video on social media?
The song’s critics, of course, are convinced “we take care of our own” means small-town residents will take the law into their own hands when they see injustice. But that’s up to interpretation … listeners can imagine any ending they want.
Some call that “art.”
But to be clear, Aldean’s song is not to be compared to anything Johnny Cash ever created. And it’s not at the level of storytelling achieved by Lambert, Rogers or Brooks. At best, “Try That in a Small Town” is grossly naïve to suggest residents of small towns are more righteous than residents of big cities, or more likely to act as vigilantes. At worst, a profiteer intentionally riled up his Aldean Army of fans to boost sales.
This is not a song worth serious discussion. It’s not art. It’s only offensive if you want it to be. It’s commercial chatter and it’s only worth mentioning because CMT overreacted to the culture wars.
David Stevens is publisher of Clovis Media Inc. Email him at: