Oliver Anthony is taking the nation by storm with a new song called “Rich Men North of Richmond.”
The musical sensation lives on 90 acres in Farmville, Virginia, with his three dogs and pursues an off-the-grid life, according to Whisky Riff.
The tune is about a working-class man fed up with the state of the country and the damn politicians in Washington, D.C.
This song is called “Rich Men North of Richmond.” It has been viewed MILLIONS of times.
The artist’s name is Oliver Anthony. I just got off the phone with him.
With his permission, I’d like to share the story he told me that moved the deepest parts of my soul…
Thread pic.twitter.com/sPb7Iylx3d
— Jason Howerton (@jason_howerton) August 11, 2023
The acoustic music is great and his voice is in a class of its own, but the lyrics speak loud and clear:
I’ve been selling my soul
Working all day
Overtime hours
For bullshit pay
So I can sit out here and waste my life away
Drag back home and drown my troubles away
It’s a damn shame
What the world’s gotten to
For people like me and people like you
Wish I could just wake up and it not be true
But it is, oh, it is
Living in the new world
With an old soul
These rich men north of Richmond
Lord knows they all just want to have total control
Wanna know what you think
Wanna know what you do
And they don’t think you know, but I know that you do
Cause your dollar ain’t shit, and it’s taxed to no end
‘Cause of rich men north of Richmond
The song zeroes in on “the obese milking welfare,” as Anthony sings, “Well God, if you’re 5 foot 3 and you’re 300 pounds – Taxes ought not to pay for your bags of fudge rounds.”
In the age of so-called toxic masculinity, he adds, “Young men are putting themselves six feet in the ground – ‘Cause all this damn country does is keep on kicking them down.”
Jason Howerton, of High Value Dad, shared the song and introduced the budding star to the world in an inspirational Twitter thread after speaking with him on the phone.
“In the past, Oliver was struggling with mental health & coping with alcohol. In depths of despair, just about a month ago, Oliver got to his knees & broke down in tears. Though he’s (sic) wasn’t a religious man, that night he promised God to get sober if he helped him follow his dream,” Howerton explained.
“Oliver was about 30 days sober when someone reached out & asked him to come record a song for his YouTube channel,” he continued. “That song was ‘Rich Men North of Richmond.’ Within days, the song was going VIRAL on social media.”
Oliver was about 30 days sober when someone reached out & asked him to come record a song for his YouTube channel.
That song was “Rich Men North of Richmond.”
Within days, the song was going VIRAL on social media.
— Jason Howerton (@jason_howerton) August 11, 2023
“As Oliver told me this story, the hair on the back of my neck stood up. Goosebumps covered my body,” Howerton said. “Here is a man who broke down & surrendered everything to God & within 30 days, he became an overnight sensation with an offer from @johnrich to produce his record.
“When I offered to cover the cost for Oliver to produce a record, I had NO idea what would transpire, nor did I know just how powerful his story was or the situation that God was inserting me into,” he shared. “I just wanted to help. This is how we’re going to change culture. And the country.”
When I offered to cover the cost for Oliver to produce a record, I had NO idea what would transpire, nor did I know just how powerful his story was or the situation that God was inserting me into.
I just wanted to help. This is how we’re going to change culture. And the coutnry.
— Jason Howerton (@jason_howerton) August 11, 2023
He concluded by announcing that Anthony has just joined Twitter and that his official account is @aintgottadollar.
Anthony’s music resonates with people, here are but a few responses to Rich Men North of Richmond, as shared by Whisky Riff:
“Just want you to know I cried on my way home from the plant listening to this. I haven’t ever heard someone making music really talk about how it truly is out here. Had chills the whole time, I really hope you make it, dude, because you’re what we need right now.”
A curse and a prayer in a beautifully painful song and he captured how nearly all of us feel. I certainly do. Thanks for sharing your art with us Mr. Anthony. All blessings to you sir.”
“This song ripped right through me. Don’t ever stop preaching, brother! Stay blessed.”
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Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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