Buddy Jewell – “Somebody Who Would Die For You”

“Even if this is a good song, I am not interested in Buddy Jewell anymore. “This Ain’t Mexico” was so bad in my mind that I don’t want to support his music or even listen to it.”

Oh jeez…

I haven’t heard his song about Mexico, but it must be really awful lol…

“This Ain’t Mexico” is my favorite Buddy Jewell song as I’m a “Minuteman” at heart. Even so it was foolish for any artist to release a song as a radio single about a topic as politically charged as illegal immigration from south of the border. Most conservatives agree with the song’s sentiment while the politically correct liberals and democrats find it offensive, racist, bigoted, etc…. Songs which generate a reverse reaction are Tom Russell’s “Who’s Gonna Build Your Wall” and The Flatlanders’ “Homeland Refugee”. Songs about political subjects people are passionate about tend to generate strong reactions and are a bit of a minefield.

As for this single its a fine song performed well but big city Top 40 country radio stations won’t give Buddy the time of day any longer. He burned the bridge with “This Ain’t Mexico” among all the Obamavoter station managers, program directors, and DJ’s at those large market stations, and that very well could be the majority of station employees in the big cities. Every major city in the US has a “rapidly growing” Latino population these days and the last thing the Top 40 country radio stations want to do is alienate a demographic they are trying to attract. Buddy did more than burn the bridge with “…Mexico”, he nuked it! Go Buddy!

“Most conservatives agree with the song’s sentiment while the politically correct liberals and democrats find it offensive, racist, bigoted, etc…”

I don’t identify myself as an all-out liberal and I still found it offensive, racist and bigoted. That had nothing to do with its stance on immigration; it had to do with how it suggested that Mexico’s only worthwhile cultural contributions to America have been fajitas and margaritas.

I’ve noticed that my fellow moderates and conservatives tend to be far more open-minded about music than do the folks on the left end of the political spectrum. The Dixie Chix, Steve Earle and others have written many lyrics with which I disagree (some with lyrics which I regard as quite offensive), but I continue to listen to their music. Similarly, I agree with Barbara Streisand on almost nothing, but that does not change the fact that she is (or was) a magnificent vocalist

This song has terrific lyrics. I particularly like the second verse as it has personal meaning for me:

“Phone rang at eight last night
Who’d call at such a crazy time?
Gettin’ kids into bath and bed
Can’t talk about all he said
All he wanted was a Saturday
Mornin’ conversation down at Bakers’ Cafe
You weren’t thinkin’ when you told your dad
Try back in a week or two
But you heard somebody who would die for you”

This lyric saddens me as I think back to times that I didn’t take the time to speak with my Dad cause I was busy

This song is okay, but it just doesn’t stick with me. I like the verse you quoted (especially since I could take more time to talk to my own parents), but the melody and production don’t stick with me at all. As far as Jewell in general, I still love “Sweet Southern Comfort” and his version of “Today I Started Loving You Again” with Miranda Lambert.

Actually Leeann, I think most country artists tend to be openly liberal as it goes to their very nature as artists.

As for this song, I prefer TL’s version of it.

The song is ok, but it is hard to shake the disgust I had over his last song. I am willing to tolerate artists displaying their politics, but not when it becomes xenophobia.

I really liked Tracy’s version of this song. I thought his label had released it as a single, but that appears to have not happened.