As a guy who loves music, it has been interesting to watch and hear all of the reactions to the viral “Rich Men North of Richmond” song that is currently the most popular country song in America. In fact, it debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Oliver Anthony the first artist to debut atop the chart without any prior charting history in any form.

For those not in the know, the song, which was written and sung by North Carolinian Oliver Anthony, who was completely unknown before his anti-establishment ditty was released. From a musical standpoint, the song flips a proverbial middle finger to all conventional wisdom regarding ‘modern’ country music, which too often today is almost indistinguishable from pop/rock music.

In fact, I’ve heard young people describe modern country as “rock with a fiddle and a banjo.” I totally understand where that description would come from. Let me say I am not a fan of modern country music for that very reason. It’s way, way too homogenized and sterile, pre-packaged, and predictable. Lyrics almost exclusively include obligatory references to trucks, drinking, and women — and not necessarily in that order. On the whole, it is analogous to the products created by corporate pop acts, created for one thing and one thing only: to make money. I like to call it ‘McCountry music’.

Now I freely admit that I am a rock fan, but I grew up on a steady diet of songs from men and women like Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Tammy Wynnette, and Loretta Lynn. These were men and women who had lived through some hard times in their lives, and used their music almost as a form of therapy.

The thing about that brand of country music was it was unapologetically raw, and anchored in the harsh realities of being a poor, common man and/or woman in America. They were not afraid to call into focus social issues that were part of that reality. That is why that music literally embedded itself into the psyche of those common folk who felt they could’ve written the songs themselves based on their own experiences. As a result of that, that music resonated in the hearts and souls of those who listened to it, and across ethnic lines.

In many ways, traditional country music is purest form of American music that exists.

What we are seeing with this particular song is a throwback to that type of country music that was as pure and unfiltered as Appalachian moonshine. Think about these lyrics:

Livin’ in the new world With an old soul

These rich men north of Richmond

Lord knows they all just wanna 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 shand it’s taxed to no end

‘Cause of rich men north of Richmond.

Be honest now — how many of us have felt like an old soul living in a new world we didn’t recognize?

The entire song is much in that same line, and Americans everywhere are nodding their heads in agreement. As one of my black friends even said: “If he’d take that song and put a hip-hop beat behind it he’d have the biggest hit in musical history because his words mirror many of my own thoughts.”

Anthony is preaching here from his heart. A 2010 high school dropout at age 17 who later secured his GED, Anthony worked in industrial jobs in North Carolina and Virginia. At a paper mill in North Carolina, he had a work accident in 2013 which fractured his skull, leaving him unable to work for half a year. Bouncing between sales and manufacturing jobs since, up until the beginning of this month he was living in a travel trailer on an ‘off the grid’ property.

So when you hear the songs he sings, you know they too, like those aforementioned country artists, are firmly anchored in the harsh realities he has endured.

And from a purely musical standpoint, understand that this song is nothing more than a man singing and his guitar. There are no other instruments in play, no slick production employing background choirs or ultra-slick studio musicians. Nope, this was literally a plug and play effort — he plugged up a guitar and microphone and recorded it. Anthony’s voice isn’t exactly stellar, and his musicianship isn’t particularly noteworthy — it is the message delivered through his lyrics that are the real difference maker here

Personally, I find this entire story refreshing for several reasons. It’s cool to see someone come out of nowhere and make a completely original and fresh statement with their talent with total disregard to what is considered mainstream. I find it almost funny that high paid Nashville country music executives are baffled that someone singing real country music could be successful with it.

But more than anything, it does my heart good to see our nation once again turn its lonely eyes to an old-fashioned country singer who is delivering a musical message that reflects his own hardships that clearly resonates within many of them — and, for many of the same reasons.