Ms Ward is right though, things haven’t changed much – the right and left still distrust each other, refuse to believe that the other side is sincere in their beliefs, and are ignorant of merits of the other side’s positions.

And the right often claims Merle as one of their own in terms of political ideology because of those two songs, which Merle has said is not very accurate. For instance, he is not exactly a fan of the Iraq war. So it really goes to show that one cannot judge a musician’s beliefs only on the basis of the songs he or she writes or sings, let alone two songs that were written during a period of extreme social and political turbulence in which America was divided in a way that hadn’t been seen since the Civil War.

The follow up “Fighting Side of Me” zeroed in on the more serious elements of ‘Okie’

I am from the UK and my only direct experience of American culture is as a tourist.
Maybe that makes a difference.

I thought I was pretty much up to speed with American cultural references. However, I had not have a clue what “Okie From Muskogee” was referring to on first couple of listens. Of course, it is spelled out in full at the end and I eventually got that one.

Even now I can’t remember what “Old Glory” and “white lightning” are.

Another difficulty for me with this, and a lot of so called “classic songs” is the high expectation you have when the first time you get to hear a song is as a part of some collection of the greatest country songs of all time.

I, perhaps mistakenly, expect to appreciate these songs greatness immediately. Needless to say I am more often than not disappointed.

In a way I think it is quite a healthy thing that I don’t get “Okie”.

I find it a little alarming just how easy I find it to get the sentiment of something like Alan Jackson’s “Small Town Southern Man”. Although my own life, I thought, couldn’t be more removed from the one he describes.

The other issue I have with “Okie From Muskogee” is this:
It is fine to be proud of your own culture and way of life but this song seems to be, albeit indirectly, taking a shot at another equally valid and flourishing culture and way of life.

Thanks Blake for putting this song into a bit more context for me.

Maybe I am taking what is supposed to be a fun song to seriously.

I wish I could happily sing along with this one, maybe one day!