Oliver Anthony might not be a household name just yet, but the singer/songwriter from Farmville, Virginia, has become an overnight sensation and is making himself known with his brand-new tune, “Rich Men North Of Richmond.”
In the blue-collar anthem, Anthony raises several issues with problems facing the country. They range from homelessness to suicide rates to problems of working-class communities, and the lyrics in his song have resonated with people all over America.
“I’ve been selling my soul, working all day/ Overtime hours for bullsh– pay,” Anthony sings in a YouTube video posted by radiowv, later adding, “It’s a damn shame / What the world’s gotten to / For people like me / People like you / Wish I could just wake up / Have it not be true / But it is / Oh it is / Livin’ in the new world.”
“We’ve got folks on the street / Ain’t got nothin’ to eat….,” Anthony sings in another verse of the tune in the clip, which has amassed millions of views. “Your dollar ain’t sh– cause it’s taxed to no end.”
Listen To Oliver Anthony’s “Rich Men North Of Richmond” Below
Kick-Starting His Music Career
On Monday (Aug. 7), Anthony took to YouTube with an introduction video, where he opened up about the song and shared his reasons for kick-starting his music career.
“I really started to write my music back in 2021. Things were obviously not good for a lot of people, and in some respects, I was one of those people,” Anthony told listeners in the lengthy clip. “I had wasted a lot of nights getting high and getting drunk, and I had sort of gotten to a point in my life where even things that I did care about didn’t mean anything to me anymore….”
The talented musician and performer then said, “I found an outlet in this music….,” and added that he “started getting messages from people saying how much the music was helping them with their struggles in their lives….”
“It gave me a purpose,” he shared. “It made me feel like I wasn’t just wasting my time.”
Oliver Anthony Explains Meaning Behind “Rich Men North Of Richmond”
After that, Anthony went on to explain the meaning behind “Rich Men North of Richmond.”
“‘Rich Men North of Richmond’ touches on my time in Western North Carolina working in the factory. It talks about some people that live north of Richmond, Virginia, who I’m sure you’re very aware of, who make life a little more difficult than it should be,” he said.
Oliver Anthony continued, “It touches base on human trafficking and the atrocities that, you know. I sit pretty dead center down the aisle on politics, and I always have. I remember as a kid the conservatives wanting war and me not understanding that, and I remember a lot of the controversies when the left took office and it seems like, you know, both sides serve the same master and that master is not someone of any good to the people of this country.”
Anthony also added that “Rich Men North Of Richmond” raises awareness of rates of suicide, which he called “symptoms of a bigger universal problem” that “isn’t talked about enough.”
“Rich Men North of Richmond” has gained plenty of traction since its release. According to tampafp.com, the tune went No. 1 on iTunes, knocking Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town” out of the top position. The song has also gone viral online with several listeners sharing their reactions in separate videos.
Recently Sang Duet With Jamey Johnson
In addition, Anthony performed his original song at a free pop-up show at Morris Farm Market in Barco, North Carolina. During the set on Sunday (Aug. 13), he shared the stage with country legend Jamey Johnson.
“I’m not sure I’ll ever top this moment where @jamey_johnson surprised me to sing his all-time classic with me on stage. What a legend,” Anthony captioned a post, sharing a video of the two joining forces on “In Color” on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
Anthony’s viral song has no doubt taken him to a new level of stardom, and it will be interesting to see where he goes from here.
In the meantime, folks can check out his other self-penned songs on YouTube, including “Ain’t Got A Dollar,” “Cobwebs and Cocaine,” “90 Some Chevy,” and numerous others that were recorded simply with the use of his cell phone.
