Oliver Anthony — the singer whose “Rich Men North of Richmond” currently sits at the top of the charts — says his message has been clouded, and despite what many may want to think, he’s not a political pawn to be used by conservatives.
The Virginia native got candid in a self-taped video just a couple days after the GOP played his song during the first debate for Presidential hopefuls.
Anthony says it’s funny because he wrote his hit song about the very people on stage and how they’ve lost their care and consideration for the common, working man.
The country-folk singer notes his message is bigger than one political party, noting, “It’s aggravating seeing people on conservative news try to identify with me like I’m one of them.”
Anthony’s song seems to take aim at politicians as a whole, not a specific side of the aisle, he notes, “That song has nothing to do with Joe Biden, it’s a lot bigger than Joe Biden.”
He says, “I see the right trying to characterize me as one of their own, and I see the left trying to discredit me. I guess in retaliation. That s***’s gotta stop.”
At one point, Anthony gets emotional when talking about the future of the country, including young lives that have been lost in senseless ways … saying everybody’s got to get together and stop being so divisive, something he says he’s gonna work to change.