Oliver Anthony, an aspiring singer and songwriter, has taken the world by storm with his heartfelt folk song titled “Rich Men North of Richmond,” a scathing critique of D.C. political elites. The song has surged to the number-one spot on iTunes, as many working-class listeners are applauding the lyrics for echoing their own experiences.
Anthony’s folk song has particularly resonated with conservative audiences, who have embraced its condemnation of political elites and its accurate portrayal of the struggles faced by working-class Americans. The song masterfully captures the sentiment of those who feel marginalized by the very system that is supposed to be serving them.
The song’s lyrics openly denounce politicians by describing them as “rich men north of Richmond.” Addressing a range of pressing issues that hurt the working class, the song takes aim at rising inflation and high taxes, lamenting how the hard-earned dollar is losing its value. In one line, Anthony sings, “Cause your dollar ain’t s*** and it’s taxed to no end.”
Anthony’s song also touches on the devastating impact of societal issues, such as the increasing rates of suicide among young men. The lyrics describe the harsh reality of depression, with one line stating, “Young men are putting themselves six feet in the ground, ’cause all this damn country does is keep on kicking them down.”
Drawing attention to disturbing events like the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, the song passionately demands more accountability from politicians. Anthony’s verse “I wish politicians would look out for miners and not just minors on an island somewhere” calls out the widespread allegations of human trafficking by political elites.
Shortly after being released, Anthony’s video of him singing “Rich Men North of Richmond” went viral. On the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), the video of Anthony’s performance has been reshared extensively, amassing millions of views in only a few days. Similarly, the song’s official video on YouTube has already garnered over 9 million views. The song has now climbed to the number-one single on iTunes.
Anthony’s genuine lyrics and passionate singing have struck a chord with audiences across the country, leaving many to call it the anthem of the conservative middle class.
