Brad Paisley Calls ‘Accidental Racist’ One Of His ‘Proudest Moments As A Songwriter’

radio.com ^ | 4/8/13

[SoFloFreeper]

Brad Paisley’s new album Wheelhouse isn’t even in stores yet (it’s set for release tomorrow), but already one of the songs is causing controversy for its lyrics that attempt to address racial tensions in the South.

Called “Accidental Racist,” the song appears aimed at helping to bridge misunderstandings. The song starts out with a guy apologizing for the Confederate flag on his T-shirt to a a worker he encountered at the local Starbucks. As his protagonist sings, “when I put on that T-shirt, the only thing I meant to say, is I’m a Skynyrd fan.”

“I’m proud of where I’m from,” the chorus goes, “but not everything we’ve done.” And his protagonist does admit that he’s “got a lot to learn,” and ultimately, “I just want to make things right.”

[Fiji Hill]

I don't like this Johnny Cast--What Is Truth (1970)

I like this Johnny Cash--Get Rhythm (1956)

[pnz1]

I really didn’t like Brad’s “Southern Comfort Zone” song

[Rappini]

Paisley can join ranks with that other AH country singer who’s coming out of retirement, he sang with George Strait at the ACM. He supported Obama and he’s chubby.

[wvguy]

>>“I’m proud of where I’m from,” the chorus goes, “but not everything we’ve done.”

>Ironic considering he's from West Virginia, which split from Virginia over slavery and fought on the side of the Union during the Civil War. So does that mean he's a hard core Confederate who is ashamed that his state sided with the union? Or more likely, doesn't have the slightest idea about his home states history.

Paisley grew up a few miles from where I grew up. I'm about 10 years older than him, leaving WV about the same time he graduated high school.

The Civil War isn't a big thing there. I never heard it mentioned in the 25 years I lived there. There's no Union or Confederate celebrations or such. I never saw a Confederate flag the whole time I lived there.

I like Paisley, but he's not talking about where he grew up.

[a fool in paradise]

“Just because my pants are saggin’ doesn’t mean I’m up to no good/You should try to get to know me, I really wish you would.”

Borrowed fashion from thugs who think it is hip to look like you just got out of county lockup and boast of how many times you've been arrested and how many times you "got shot". Look at rappers' (at least post-1994) press bios. May not be a genuine thug, but it is thuggish behavior with the intent to get "respect" or at least deference to their "authority".

Just because you wear nice threads still doesn't mean you are on the up and up, but people won't associate you with a lowly sort.

[a fool in paradise]

I have little use for this liberal from West Virginia who has gone Hollywood and pretends to care about God, family and country.

In the song's lyrics, he acknowledges he "still has a lot to learn".

[a fool in paradise]

"Starbucks?"

"You ain't from around, here. Are you, Brad?"

[a fool in paradise]

Focus is always on “the South” when it comes to racism. As if Boston, New York, Detroit, Chicago, and Los Angeles don’t have any racist past or present.

[a fool in paradise]

>>. The song starts out with a guy apologizing for the Confederate flag on his T-shirt to a a worker he encountered at the local Starbucks. As his protagonist sings, “when I put on that T-shirt, the only thing I meant to say, is I’m a Skynyrd fan.”

Idiot! doesn't even know the history of the confederate flag.

I'm a Sex Pistols fan. Don't judge me. < /fashionvictim >

[a fool in paradise]

Never does the media look back to reflect on the UNION GOONS who lynched those who dared to cross picket lines in the 1930s.

[a fool in paradise]

Something don’t add up here.

It sounds like a story about one of Joe Biteme or Hairy Reid or Little Dick Gephardt might have told about "one of their friends".