I couldn't care less about Toby Keith…I'm just astounded that Perez managed to use the right form of the word "you're".
He must have gotten himself a proofreader.
Disgraceful, disgusting, and disheartening. Of course it is coming from a man that is a closeted homosexual so of course he can't deal with his own issues. So quick to judge, yet if everyone knew he was gay, his followers may ask for his lynching….
PEREZ, start a ban on Toby Keith. The little man needs to feel the effects of his words.
Keep up the great work informing mainstream youth of the issues today!
Smooches,
Missy
Who is toby Keith? I saw him an The Report. Is he a country singer? The farthest in to country I go is Taylor Swift and the occasional Carrie underwood
talking about taking something WAY too literally …He just means people arent punished hard enough today and if you do something wrong you should be punished ..You just don't like him because he is a conservative, liberals always making everything so dramatic
You're the idiot on this one, Perez. I'm pretty positive this song was NOT meant to be racial in any way. They hung plenty of white men in the old west. Stealing was a hanging offense…period. Ridiculous nonsense…..people are always trying to stir up trouble.
Toby Keith is a DEMOCRAT, and this song is not "racially tinged." If a liberal media thinks "gangster" = African American, and that hanging only happens to African Americans and Jews in history, it betrays more a subconscious racism on the accuser's part than on Toby Keith's. By the way, I'm a liberal.
PEREZ you are the FUCKING IDIOT of all IDIOTS, that is NOT WHAT HE IS SINGING about…you stupid FUCK. He is NOT talking about lynching anyone stupid ass. I swear you never cease to amaze me with your bullshit. And by the way NUMB NUTS he is a REGISTERED DEMOCRAT, and he has been for many years. He like anyone with some sense believes that bashing WHOEVER is the president of this wonderful country weakens the country. Why the fuck won't you stay away from POLITICS? Or at least do the RESEARCH yourself you are always talking about what you know nothing about ASSHOLE..
I've work in country radio for a long time. Toby Keith is in fact an arrogant person. This song came out YEARS ago, 2003 I believe. It is a duet with Willie Nelson. I believe he is the one that sings the lyric about hanging them in the street. That's the way it was done in the olden days. That is what this song is about. If they were saying hey it's 2008 lets kill and black people are bad, it'd be different. It's about "the old west". So as much as a dick Toby is, back off. It's a song, not an autobiography.
First post after the article states everything I need to say.
Perez, you're a fucking idiot. Great site though…
Let me try an exercise.
1st verse - a list of crimes being committed today (no mention of who/what color)
2nd verse- Grandpa says that back in his day, people had to answer for their wicked deeds
2nd verse- How did they answer FOR THEIR WICKED DEEDS? (not for who they were or what color they were) By being rounded up (in texas, not georgia or mississippi) and hanged by a posse of the boys.
Chorus- Why were they hanged in the street? So that people could find justice.
3rd verse - Back to today, people still committing crimes, corruption. (again, no mention of race)
3rd verse- Its time THE LONG ARM OF THE LAW (not posse's of angry villagers) should put a few more in the ground.
3rd verse- God will settle them down.
I will grant you that grandpa advocated the vigilante justice of his days, for criminals, not colors. Remember, they "had to answer for the wicked that they'd done."
But TK advocates the LAW addressing the criminals today. He may be advocating pretty harsh punishment, but, I submit, not vigilante justice.
As for race, please explain to me, specifically, where Toby says anything about race.
This is offensive!!! He knows EXACTLY what he's singing about. Toby Keith's a bad man. Watch the Dixie Chicks documentary "Shut Up & Sing" and hear what he says…
PEREZ, don't make an issue out of it. The song is talking about old times. Things are different now, I'm not offended. I don't think there's anything to be offended by!
YOU fucking DUMB ass. If you knew anything about history…EVERYONE was hung in those days he is singing about. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BLACK PEOPLE. GOD YOU FUCKING PEOPLE DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING BESIDES WHAT PEREZ TELLS YOU?
I SWEAR HE BETTER NEVER TELL YOU TO DRINK THE KOOL AIDE.
He didn't say hang black people you race baiting pillow biter. How many white criminals were hung from trees? How many cattle rustlers? Everyone is looking to make a big deal out of nothing.
I have NOOOOOO problem with this! The idiocy is today's bullshit excuse for a justice system…where a perp can sue a victim for Christ sake, or you kill someone and get a damn slap on the wrist and my taxes pay for your prison time. He isn't advocating racism, he's advocating accountability. You do the crime, you do the damn time. An eye for an eye. What the hell do LAW ABIDING have to fear from that?
TK may ber a right-wing pro-war redneck but as many of you look at that as an insult, We in Georgia don't feel that way. We're actually proud to be redneck as it conotates clear, logical thinking without being too sensitive.
The guy writing this article is a hyper-sensitive douche. No mention of Race. No mention of the term lynching. It's too many people trying to be journalists. I betcha this guy has some papparazzi in his cell phone.
oh please, Toby Keith is NOT racist.. that song is just a country tune about catching the bad guys and punishing them. any bad guys.. not necessarily blacks or Mexicans..plus the song is supppper old. I dont find anything racist about it.. and im not white.. perez please stop trying to make something out of nothing..
He's an idiot because he wants to stop crime? Because he doesn't want innocent people being hurt by criminals? They used to hang horse-thieves back in the West, nowadays, someone could shoot your horse then rape your little kid, stab you and set your house on fire and they would get probation.
More backwards crap from a pigheaded man. When it comes to country music, no one tops the Dixie Chicks. Great songs and intelligence to go along with it.
You guys are making a big deal out of nothing. These are country singers. I doubt they're singing about hanging African Americans. Lynching used to be the 'death penalty' back in the day. Why does everything having to do with lynching just go back to African Americans?
Call my crazy, but I didn't really see it. I read the article, the lyrics, and watched the video…but I wouldn't say that it was racist. And believe me, I'm not one to take alligations like that lightly. But really, it seemed like a cowboy just trying to be cool and deal with the crime rate in the US. Unfortunately, the only way he can relate is by old school cowboy ways which was hanging. Admittedly, many (TOO MANY!) African Americans were terrorized by lynching. However, that also used to be the widespread punishment of the west for serious crimes, black or white. Along with that, the main "villian" in the video, if you notice, is white. So really, I think that people are making something out of nothing and should worry about something that actually matters like, oh, I dunno, school budgets that are getting cut every day. Only with critical thinking skills will kids (who will grow up one day) learn to differentiate the real issues from the fake ones.
maybe im not reading it properly but, i saw nothing about racial comments in that song. i read the lyrics and it never once mentions black people. do people disagree that wrong do-ers should be punished? maybe hanging is a bit harsh but are we also not entitled to free speech? again, this whole race business is being blown out of proportion…I DID NOT OWN SLAVES, NOR DID ANY OF MY ANCESTORS…THEREFORE, I DONT OWE ANYBODY ANYTHING! GET OVER IT ALREADY!! how can we be unified if the ones we're trying to protect are just as racist as we are?
He really thinks that will get him somewhere, i mean come on! I don't think I will be able to listen to him again. Not that i ever did anyway but he was pretty hot.
Did you guys even read the lyrics, Toby is speaking about the past when he refers to lynching, and unfortunately lynching is a part of America's history. "Banning" Toby because he sang about is immature and ridiculous. The lyrics also state "Its time the long arm of the law put a few more in the ground" meaning the LAW should be responsible for handing out justice, which is quite different from lynching. And as for putting a "few more in the ground" the death penalty is still active in many states in America, so maybe you should stop being hypocritical.
Give me a frickin break
You can twist anything or any subject and make it sound racial or discriminative. That is a load of crap. I am sick of this bullshit. No matter if your white-black or fucking purple you do shit that causes pain and suffering and especially death by bein evil-Fucking hang'em high!
Shall we sit here and dissect every rap song to see if it is racist against white people. Just because it is a country artist does not make the song racist. Quit stereotyping Perez.
Get a grip people! The song has NOTHING to do with race. Nothing. It isn't even pro-lynching except as that states form of capitol punishment at the time it 'takes place'. I'm kinda shocked everyone seems so up in arms over Mr. Kieth. the only thing he does wrong is say what he thinks. If people don't want to hear or read what someone thinks then what are you doing reading Perez?
Anyone who thinks the hanging verse is about black people is a fucking idiot. The verse is CLEARLY trying to evoke a sense of the old west. Get a grip you morons.
i'm not the one who would normally defend Toby Keith–i hate the guy. and yes, promoting vigilante justice may be stupid (although there are PLENTY of other songs out there that do this, and not just country). but you've got to be looking REALLY hard to find evidence of racism in this song/video. i love how they pick apart the video and talk about the black guy appearing as Keith sings "too many gangsters doing dirty deeds." Did they even watch the video, or were they just waiting for a black guy to appear somewhere in the video so they could shout RACISM? the black guy appeared as someone they were asking to identify the REAL suspect—A WHITE GUY! that's right, the bad guy in this video is a white guy. i love how people want to believe Keith is a racist, so they look for any evidence that would confirm what they want to be confirmed. ridiculous. stop creating issues that aren't there.
For the love of God. Its a song that has been out for at least TWO years!!! The song was popular. You didn't have a problem with it then, did you? The man likes to make movies. He's got enough $$ to do what he damn well pleases. Watch it, don't watch it…your choice. Its not about hate crimes. Its about how criminals should be treated. Give me a break.
They used to hang people for crimes WAY before lynching began. That's how criminals were punished. It was a display to get people to follow the rules. They didn't just go sit in a publicly paid for room with a bed, tv, and a toilet. And they sure as hell didn't get paid for work or go to school. Why do you think the crime rate was lower?? So do some research before you go calling people names.
Stop crying foul, people. Life your own damn life and get your head out of the past. There's not a damn thing you can do about it.
You can change the future. You can learn from the past. But you can't change the past. Learn to let go and move on. Living in the past simply screws up the future.
that's not even a valid argument, and the song is about making criminals pay for what they have done. god perez i didn't realize you hated justice. i suppose you hate america too. you obviously don't know what you're talking about with this and neither does the schmuck who wrote the article. its ridiculous. get over it.
After watching the video I will have to disagree with the article! They show a lot more white men as being criminals than black! As a matter of fact the main criminal in the scene is white and they have a black cop with them making the arrest!!! Stop picking shit to death and get over it! It's just a song about the old west and history is what it is! Nobody bitched this much when Sadam was hanging our boys for the whole world to see. Find a new subject because frankly the world is getting tired of hearing the same old shit about racism. We have so moved on and I think improved, but of course you can always find something to gripe about if you look hard enough.
Wow .. I absolutely love how really stupid you can be sometimes. Perez I'm not usually a "basher" of you. I don't come here just to say that. But this is ridiculous. I think its HILARIOUS when you get on your self-righteous bullshit like this.. that you know absolutely NOTHING about. You take an article on the HUFFINGTON POST (HAHA) and then presume that 1) it's completely the gospel, and 2) Toby Keith is a lynching advocate. Are. You. Serious? This song has been out for like 2 years or some shit. You're an idiot. Seriously Perez, normally I think you're funny.. but sometimes.. you really need to grasp the whole concept before you post. Wow.
Toby Keith’s song isn’t necessarily promoting lynching as a punishment; it’s got a “deeper” meaning. His basic message is that there was a time when misbehavior resulted in real punishment. When doing something wrong, (i.e. drunk driving) resulted in serious consequences, not just 13 hours in jail. There was a time when rules meant something, and all he’s doing in his song is remembering that time when there was a clear distinction between right and wrong.
Re: Ross –
Ross, you are right on point. Anyone who has listened to Toby Keith talk about this song has heard him point out that exact same thing. It has nothing to do with race or religion. It has everything to do with criminals getting off too easy or if they are in jail they have it better than people out trying to make a living the honest way.
Perez,
Shame on you… freedom of speech is for everyone not just the Hollywood elite, gays and lesbians. I agree with the other poster that everyone gets too offended today. if you don't agree with something someday says, ignore it. And lastly, you guys are reading wayyyyy too much into the song. Marilyn Manson can worship satan in songs, Madonna can glorify sex to teenagers but heaven forbid Toby Keith speak about something. Good bad or indifferent–it's America and we have freedom of speech. If you don't like freedom of speech, MOVE TO CUBA or CHINA.
It's a FUCKING SONG PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!! And nowhere does it mention ANYTHING ABOUT COLOR OR RACE… Good GOD people lighten the fuck up!!!! And NO ONE on here can tell me if your child was beaten or raped or your wife or girlfriend OR your husband of boyfriend beaten or killed. YOU WOULD BE PLEASURED BY WATCHING THAT SORRY BASTARD HANG>>I know I WOULD>>>> Whats the difference in watching a hanging or watching someone get electricuted too death? They both have an audience..
You people are idiots, Lynching was the only form of law enforcement in Texas throughout the 1800's. There is nothing racist about this song. Any cattle thief was hung. No local courts existed to provide a just society. If you listen to the song, it is in reference to the Old West. Not the Clan. Get a life people, move on, take an interest in the presidential race, not what Perez thinks s cool.
*sigh* Hanging and lynching weren't ONLY used on blacks. It wasn't even used PRIMARILY on blacks. It was used on EVERYONE for any little thing. It's only been in the last 10 years that hanging or lynching was ever associated with race whatsoever. God you people need to fuck off.
Oh…an one more little secret…People are allowed to be racist! It's a perfectly legal belief. No different than Perez hating people who are conservative or have *gasp* morals. Dislike is dislike. There's nothing wrong with not liking someone and it doesn't matter why you don't like them.
If you don't know country music well, or are not familiar with Keith, well then you don't really know much with regards to this song. Imagine old town western, early 1900s Texas, not 1950s Alabama. We're talking about cowboys here, not KKK.
Um your an idiot for taking that song out of context perez. First of all that song is like ten years old, and he is talking about stopping crime not persecuting people.
To the person who commented about Toby being a conservative…he's actually a tried and true blue-collar DEMOCRAT. But haven't ANY of you seen Westerns? Bad Girls= madeline stowe was to be hung simply for being a harlot…People (mostly WHITES) who lived in small towns in the West could be hung just for LOOKING at the sheriff the wrong way….
I have never commented before but this one struck me, no where in this song does it say a SINGLE racist word. What he is talking about is not letting criminals get by with a slap on the hand anymore and making them take responsibility for their actions. They lyrics that involve his “Pappy” are speaking to the same. Someone has too much time on their hands and is reading too much into the song. I am disappointed in you Perez, I would have thought you would think for yourself rather then go with some some Huffington Post article.
Toby is such a down to earth, patriotic singer, whose songs are meant to stir people to action and change of their thinking and ways! The song is 5 years old, and gives off a wild west vibe, not racist south. He uses that to comment on the need for change in law enforcement and behavior today. Clearly he does not want to hang anyone … he is just advocating more respect for the law and a sense of duty to uphold it by the general population.
WTF? This can't be….this world really is leaving me unimpressed. I don't get it. I hope his career and his money suffers from his stupidity…on that note I will pray for him and the thousands he's capable of infecting.
Quit trying to make everything these days about race. Maybe if people (whatever color they are) were still hung for their crimes, there would be less of it.
1. This song has been out for several years - was even in the top whatever on country charts for a long time and people are JUST NOW having a problem. . . welcome to earth. I find it amusing that no one found it racist until some wingnut that gets published finds it so. Then poof. . .popular opinion.
2. I seriously dislike Toby Keith, but this song is one I acutally give him props for. It blows my mind how anyone can read racism into a song which clearly states WHY these people were hung high in the streets. At no point does it mention color, nationality or sexual preferance. If assumed wrong makes people an idiot, then the person assuming doesn't rank much higher. ( I personally think he's an idiot for an entirely different reason)
All I have to say is this song has been out for 4 years. If nobody likes that song then why would they allow him to sing it on air. He's an artist and there are many other songs out there that have been far worse. What about the ones degrading women. I don't know I think that it must be a slow day if your reporting on Toby Keith a man who has visited our troops several times over in Iraq and Afghanistan. Give me a break. If your going to pick on him for his lyrics then you should look outside of the country market because I don't listen to rap because of there nasty lyrics.
Give me a break! Historically, every word of this song is fact! I don't think he was trying to be a racist or promoting anything bad. That's what's wrong with our society now!! We are too super sensitive about everything! Get over it! There's no mention of color or race in the song!
Why do we still say things like that & think we're not doing anything wrong??? Is 2008!!! is beyond revolting! Is narrow minded & idiotic!! as an immigrant living in north america (canada that is…sorry 'americans'…you are from the UNITED STATES thats the name of your country YOU DO NOT OWN THE WHOLE CONTINENT!) it saddens me to see that we're still not able to stop being afraid & judging people by the way they look…im a happy 'beaner' living with my 'white french' boyfriend … race diversity is an ADVANTAGE! is cool! it makes us different and more interesting!
dick
first?
lol wow 1st ?
Idiot
FIRST BABY
Not first
I love you Perez!!! Please write to me!
really? as if we didnt know he was a shithead by now!
Everyone needs to move on. We live in a society where everyone is offended so easily and it's ridiculous.
He most definitely is.
I couldn't care less about Toby Keith…I'm just astounded that Perez managed to use the right form of the word "you're".
He must have gotten himself a proofreader.
WTF cares? I didn't even read it, though.
Disgraceful, disgusting, and disheartening. Of course it is coming from a man that is a closeted homosexual so of course he can't deal with his own issues. So quick to judge, yet if everyone knew he was gay, his followers may ask for his lynching….
PEREZ, start a ban on Toby Keith. The little man needs to feel the effects of his words.
Keep up the great work informing mainstream youth of the issues today!
Smooches,
Missy
yes he is. first.
1st biatch
Who is toby Keith? I saw him an The Report. Is he a country singer? The farthest in to country I go is Taylor Swift and the occasional Carrie underwood
that's totally disgusting.
This song is so olddd. They should lynch you.
talking about taking something WAY too literally …He just means people arent punished hard enough today and if you do something wrong you should be punished ..You just don't like him because he is a conservative, liberals always making everything so dramatic
What the hell do you expect from a redneck tool like Toby Keith ?
He's an asshole
ok what did he do?
OH PLEASE. if all the flaming liberals won't do something about the crime in this country, maybe toby does need to lynch some mo-fos.
You're the idiot on this one, Perez. I'm pretty positive this song was NOT meant to be racial in any way. They hung plenty of white men in the old west. Stealing was a hanging offense…period. Ridiculous nonsense…..people are always trying to stir up trouble.
I agree!
ohhh tobers
Toby Keith is a DEMOCRAT, and this song is not "racially tinged." If a liberal media thinks "gangster" = African American, and that hanging only happens to African Americans and Jews in history, it betrays more a subconscious racism on the accuser's part than on Toby Keith's. By the way, I'm a liberal.
Oh, gimme a break it's just a song!!!! Taking it a bit far, aren't you?
People take everything too seriously. My God, cant anyone enjoy a song without people saying it's 'racial' or 'derrogatory'? Seriously, grow up.
Give me a break, this is stupid. He is not condoning linching…hanging used to be punishment for crime. That is no secret.
i hate reading about bullshitters and celebrities, so can you just drop the YELLE video now?
PEREZ you are the FUCKING IDIOT of all IDIOTS, that is NOT WHAT HE IS SINGING about…you stupid FUCK. He is NOT talking about lynching anyone stupid ass. I swear you never cease to amaze me with your bullshit. And by the way NUMB NUTS he is a REGISTERED DEMOCRAT, and he has been for many years. He like anyone with some sense believes that bashing WHOEVER is the president of this wonderful country weakens the country. Why the fuck won't you stay away from POLITICS? Or at least do the RESEARCH yourself you are always talking about what you know nothing about ASSHOLE..
I've work in country radio for a long time. Toby Keith is in fact an arrogant person. This song came out YEARS ago, 2003 I believe. It is a duet with Willie Nelson. I believe he is the one that sings the lyric about hanging them in the street. That's the way it was done in the olden days. That is what this song is about. If they were saying hey it's 2008 lets kill and black people are bad, it'd be different. It's about "the old west". So as much as a dick Toby is, back off. It's a song, not an autobiography.
this song has been around for a while now and to make hype of it now is just helping to promote his new movie.
First post after the article states everything I need to say.
Perez, you're a fucking idiot. Great site though…
Let me try an exercise.
1st verse - a list of crimes being committed today (no mention of who/what color)
2nd verse- Grandpa says that back in his day, people had to answer for their wicked deeds
2nd verse- How did they answer FOR THEIR WICKED DEEDS? (not for who they were or what color they were) By being rounded up (in texas, not georgia or mississippi) and hanged by a posse of the boys.
Chorus- Why were they hanged in the street? So that people could find justice.
3rd verse - Back to today, people still committing crimes, corruption. (again, no mention of race)
3rd verse- Its time THE LONG ARM OF THE LAW (not posse's of angry villagers) should put a few more in the ground.
3rd verse- God will settle them down.
I will grant you that grandpa advocated the vigilante justice of his days, for criminals, not colors. Remember, they "had to answer for the wicked that they'd done."
But TK advocates the LAW addressing the criminals today. He may be advocating pretty harsh punishment, but, I submit, not vigilante justice.
As for race, please explain to me, specifically, where Toby says anything about race.
Thanks.
This is offensive!!! He knows EXACTLY what he's singing about. Toby Keith's a bad man. Watch the Dixie Chicks documentary "Shut Up & Sing" and hear what he says…
PEREZ, don't make an issue out of it. The song is talking about old times. Things are different now, I'm not offended. I don't think there's anything to be offended by!
WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT IF HE WERE TREATED WITH THE SAME HATRED HE RALLIED FOR THE DIXIE CHICKS A FEW YEARS BACK? WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND TOBY!!!
thanks for posting this Perez. You are the best.
Scooby
if a dixie chick had written that song, they would have hung her. fuck him.
i can't believe this song is just now making a wave in the media, this song came out years ago!
It's sad even in todays society people who have a voice to influence use it to spread such hateful feelings. What a shame!
Are you an idiot? It's a cowboy song you ass. Why does everyone have to turn anything someone says into a racial thing. You are a jerk.
YOU fucking DUMB ass. If you knew anything about history…EVERYONE was hung in those days he is singing about. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BLACK PEOPLE. GOD YOU FUCKING PEOPLE DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING BESIDES WHAT PEREZ TELLS YOU?
I SWEAR HE BETTER NEVER TELL YOU TO DRINK THE KOOL AIDE.
He didn't say hang black people you race baiting pillow biter. How many white criminals were hung from trees? How many cattle rustlers? Everyone is looking to make a big deal out of nothing.
This is ridiculous….the song has been out for over 5 years and isn't there other important things to report on
WOW!!! What a disgusting human being!! Karma, that's all to be said… Justice denied for one, justice denied for all!!!!
That song is not racist. Everyone makes EVERYTHING about race, get over it.
Lets compare his song to some of the rap songs out there! I think its all trash!
…..just sayin
I just wish everyone would get along
Love you PEREZ
It show's you how ignorant that part of the States still is….very scary!
I have NOOOOOO problem with this! The idiocy is today's bullshit excuse for a justice system…where a perp can sue a victim for Christ sake, or you kill someone and get a damn slap on the wrist and my taxes pay for your prison time. He isn't advocating racism, he's advocating accountability. You do the crime, you do the damn time. An eye for an eye. What the hell do LAW ABIDING have to fear from that?
The one who sings those lyrics in the song is Willy Nelson. The radio version has Willie singing those words.
TK may ber a right-wing pro-war redneck but as many of you look at that as an insult, We in Georgia don't feel that way. We're actually proud to be redneck as it conotates clear, logical thinking without being too sensitive.
The guy writing this article is a hyper-sensitive douche. No mention of Race. No mention of the term lynching. It's too many people trying to be journalists. I betcha this guy has some papparazzi in his cell phone.
i've thought he was an idiot ever since that whole dixie chicks incident. this doesn't surprise me at all.
oh please, Toby Keith is NOT racist.. that song is just a country tune about catching the bad guys and punishing them. any bad guys.. not necessarily blacks or Mexicans..plus the song is supppper old. I dont find anything racist about it.. and im not white.. perez please stop trying to make something out of nothing..
He's an idiot because he wants to stop crime? Because he doesn't want innocent people being hurt by criminals? They used to hang horse-thieves back in the West, nowadays, someone could shoot your horse then rape your little kid, stab you and set your house on fire and they would get probation.
More backwards crap from a pigheaded man. When it comes to country music, no one tops the Dixie Chicks. Great songs and intelligence to go along with it.
You guys are making a big deal out of nothing. These are country singers. I doubt they're singing about hanging African Americans. Lynching used to be the 'death penalty' back in the day. Why does everything having to do with lynching just go back to African Americans?
Call my crazy, but I didn't really see it. I read the article, the lyrics, and watched the video…but I wouldn't say that it was racist. And believe me, I'm not one to take alligations like that lightly. But really, it seemed like a cowboy just trying to be cool and deal with the crime rate in the US. Unfortunately, the only way he can relate is by old school cowboy ways which was hanging. Admittedly, many (TOO MANY!) African Americans were terrorized by lynching. However, that also used to be the widespread punishment of the west for serious crimes, black or white. Along with that, the main "villian" in the video, if you notice, is white. So really, I think that people are making something out of nothing and should worry about something that actually matters like, oh, I dunno, school budgets that are getting cut every day. Only with critical thinking skills will kids (who will grow up one day) learn to differentiate the real issues from the fake ones.
maybe im not reading it properly but, i saw nothing about racial comments in that song. i read the lyrics and it never once mentions black people. do people disagree that wrong do-ers should be punished? maybe hanging is a bit harsh but are we also not entitled to free speech? again, this whole race business is being blown out of proportion…I DID NOT OWN SLAVES, NOR DID ANY OF MY ANCESTORS…THEREFORE, I DONT OWE ANYBODY ANYTHING! GET OVER IT ALREADY!! how can we be unified if the ones we're trying to protect are just as racist as we are?
he's a self-concerned dick head.
He really thinks that will get him somewhere, i mean come on! I don't think I will be able to listen to him again. Not that i ever did anyway but he was pretty hot.
wow perez u fat fuck way to race bait, thats not what the songs about, plus this song is like 7 years old
Did you guys even read the lyrics, Toby is speaking about the past when he refers to lynching, and unfortunately lynching is a part of America's history. "Banning" Toby because he sang about is immature and ridiculous. The lyrics also state "Its time the long arm of the law put a few more in the ground" meaning the LAW should be responsible for handing out justice, which is quite different from lynching. And as for putting a "few more in the ground" the death penalty is still active in many states in America, so maybe you should stop being hypocritical.
I think we should kill more violent criminals. Incarceration doesn't work…no rehabilitation fixes the problem, so they become a burden to tax payers.
I say we kill more of them and maybe people will think twice before killing someone else.
And rope is cheap.
Re: SayWhat! – well put
Give me a frickin break
You can twist anything or any subject and make it sound racial or discriminative. That is a load of crap. I am sick of this bullshit. No matter if your white-black or fucking purple you do shit that causes pain and suffering and especially death by bein evil-Fucking hang'em high!
get over it.
Shall we sit here and dissect every rap song to see if it is racist against white people. Just because it is a country artist does not make the song racist. Quit stereotyping Perez.
It is a song. You are absolutely right, many in this country read too much into things. Can't we discuss things that are important? Jeepers
Get a grip people! The song has NOTHING to do with race. Nothing. It isn't even pro-lynching except as that states form of capitol punishment at the time it 'takes place'. I'm kinda shocked everyone seems so up in arms over Mr. Kieth. the only thing he does wrong is say what he thinks. If people don't want to hear or read what someone thinks then what are you doing reading Perez?
Anyone who thinks the hanging verse is about black people is a fucking idiot. The verse is CLEARLY trying to evoke a sense of the old west. Get a grip you morons.
i'm not the one who would normally defend Toby Keith–i hate the guy. and yes, promoting vigilante justice may be stupid (although there are PLENTY of other songs out there that do this, and not just country). but you've got to be looking REALLY hard to find evidence of racism in this song/video. i love how they pick apart the video and talk about the black guy appearing as Keith sings "too many gangsters doing dirty deeds." Did they even watch the video, or were they just waiting for a black guy to appear somewhere in the video so they could shout RACISM? the black guy appeared as someone they were asking to identify the REAL suspect—A WHITE GUY! that's right, the bad guy in this video is a white guy. i love how people want to believe Keith is a racist, so they look for any evidence that would confirm what they want to be confirmed. ridiculous. stop creating issues that aren't there.
For the love of God. Its a song that has been out for at least TWO years!!! The song was popular. You didn't have a problem with it then, did you? The man likes to make movies. He's got enough $$ to do what he damn well pleases. Watch it, don't watch it…your choice. Its not about hate crimes. Its about how criminals should be treated. Give me a break.
They used to hang people for crimes WAY before lynching began. That's how criminals were punished. It was a display to get people to follow the rules. They didn't just go sit in a publicly paid for room with a bed, tv, and a toilet. And they sure as hell didn't get paid for work or go to school. Why do you think the crime rate was lower?? So do some research before you go calling people names.
Stop crying foul, people. Life your own damn life and get your head out of the past. There's not a damn thing you can do about it.
You can change the future. You can learn from the past. But you can't change the past. Learn to let go and move on. Living in the past simply screws up the future.
that's not even a valid argument, and the song is about making criminals pay for what they have done. god perez i didn't realize you hated justice. i suppose you hate america too. you obviously don't know what you're talking about with this and neither does the schmuck who wrote the article. its ridiculous. get over it.
This song was number one for six weeks in 2003. Why are we the lyrics controversial now?
After watching the video I will have to disagree with the article! They show a lot more white men as being criminals than black! As a matter of fact the main criminal in the scene is white and they have a black cop with them making the arrest!!! Stop picking shit to death and get over it! It's just a song about the old west and history is what it is! Nobody bitched this much when Sadam was hanging our boys for the whole world to see. Find a new subject because frankly the world is getting tired of hearing the same old shit about racism. We have so moved on and I think improved, but of course you can always find something to gripe about if you look hard enough.
and the rednecks come out to defend this trash.
He should come live with me. Let's hear him sing that song then.
Him being a disgusting idiot is no new news!!!
Wow .. I absolutely love how really stupid you can be sometimes. Perez I'm not usually a "basher" of you. I don't come here just to say that. But this is ridiculous. I think its HILARIOUS when you get on your self-righteous bullshit like this.. that you know absolutely NOTHING about. You take an article on the HUFFINGTON POST (HAHA) and then presume that 1) it's completely the gospel, and 2) Toby Keith is a lynching advocate. Are. You. Serious? This song has been out for like 2 years or some shit. You're an idiot. Seriously Perez, normally I think you're funny.. but sometimes.. you really need to grasp the whole concept before you post. Wow.
Toby Keith’s song isn’t necessarily promoting lynching as a punishment; it’s got a “deeper” meaning. His basic message is that there was a time when misbehavior resulted in real punishment. When doing something wrong, (i.e. drunk driving) resulted in serious consequences, not just 13 hours in jail. There was a time when rules meant something, and all he’s doing in his song is remembering that time when there was a clear distinction between right and wrong.
Re: Ross –
Ross, you are right on point. Anyone who has listened to Toby Keith talk about this song has heard him point out that exact same thing. It has nothing to do with race or religion. It has everything to do with criminals getting off too easy or if they are in jail they have it better than people out trying to make a living the honest way.
Re: FReal –
Don't forget that they could trip and break their ankle while stabbing you…and they could sue you.
Perez,
Shame on you… freedom of speech is for everyone not just the Hollywood elite, gays and lesbians. I agree with the other poster that everyone gets too offended today. if you don't agree with something someday says, ignore it. And lastly, you guys are reading wayyyyy too much into the song. Marilyn Manson can worship satan in songs, Madonna can glorify sex to teenagers but heaven forbid Toby Keith speak about something. Good bad or indifferent–it's America and we have freedom of speech. If you don't like freedom of speech, MOVE TO CUBA or CHINA.
It's a FUCKING SONG PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!! And nowhere does it mention ANYTHING ABOUT COLOR OR RACE… Good GOD people lighten the fuck up!!!! And NO ONE on here can tell me if your child was beaten or raped or your wife or girlfriend OR your husband of boyfriend beaten or killed. YOU WOULD BE PLEASURED BY WATCHING THAT SORRY BASTARD HANG>>I know I WOULD>>>> Whats the difference in watching a hanging or watching someone get electricuted too death? They both have an audience..
lynch toby keith
You people are idiots, Lynching was the only form of law enforcement in Texas throughout the 1800's. There is nothing racist about this song. Any cattle thief was hung. No local courts existed to provide a just society. If you listen to the song, it is in reference to the Old West. Not the Clan. Get a life people, move on, take an interest in the presidential race, not what Perez thinks s cool.
*sigh* Hanging and lynching weren't ONLY used on blacks. It wasn't even used PRIMARILY on blacks. It was used on EVERYONE for any little thing. It's only been in the last 10 years that hanging or lynching was ever associated with race whatsoever. God you people need to fuck off.
Oh…an one more little secret…People are allowed to be racist! It's a perfectly legal belief. No different than Perez hating people who are conservative or have *gasp* morals. Dislike is dislike. There's nothing wrong with not liking someone and it doesn't matter why you don't like them.
If you don't know country music well, or are not familiar with Keith, well then you don't really know much with regards to this song. Imagine old town western, early 1900s Texas, not 1950s Alabama. We're talking about cowboys here, not KKK.
Um your an idiot for taking that song out of context perez. First of all that song is like ten years old, and he is talking about stopping crime not persecuting people.
To the person who commented about Toby being a conservative…he's actually a tried and true blue-collar DEMOCRAT. But haven't ANY of you seen Westerns? Bad Girls= madeline stowe was to be hung simply for being a harlot…People (mostly WHITES) who lived in small towns in the West could be hung just for LOOKING at the sheriff the wrong way….
I have never commented before but this one struck me, no where in this song does it say a SINGLE racist word. What he is talking about is not letting criminals get by with a slap on the hand anymore and making them take responsibility for their actions. They lyrics that involve his “Pappy” are speaking to the same. Someone has too much time on their hands and is reading too much into the song. I am disappointed in you Perez, I would have thought you would think for yourself rather then go with some some Huffington Post article.
Toby is such a down to earth, patriotic singer, whose songs are meant to stir people to action and change of their thinking and ways! The song is 5 years old, and gives off a wild west vibe, not racist south. He uses that to comment on the need for change in law enforcement and behavior today. Clearly he does not want to hang anyone … he is just advocating more respect for the law and a sense of duty to uphold it by the general population.
WTF? This can't be….this world really is leaving me unimpressed. I don't get it. I hope his career and his money suffers from his stupidity…on that note I will pray for him and the thousands he's capable of infecting.
Quit trying to make everything these days about race. Maybe if people (whatever color they are) were still hung for their crimes, there would be less of it.
1. This song has been out for several years - was even in the top whatever on country charts for a long time and people are JUST NOW having a problem. . . welcome to earth. I find it amusing that no one found it racist until some wingnut that gets published finds it so. Then poof. . .popular opinion.
2. I seriously dislike Toby Keith, but this song is one I acutally give him props for. It blows my mind how anyone can read racism into a song which clearly states WHY these people were hung high in the streets. At no point does it mention color, nationality or sexual preferance. If assumed wrong makes people an idiot, then the person assuming doesn't rank much higher. ( I personally think he's an idiot for an entirely different reason)
3. Willie Nelson for president!!
Oh please! In the end it is a white guy who is the killer anyway… Stop trying to make something out of nothing.
All I have to say is this song has been out for 4 years. If nobody likes that song then why would they allow him to sing it on air. He's an artist and there are many other songs out there that have been far worse. What about the ones degrading women. I don't know I think that it must be a slow day if your reporting on Toby Keith a man who has visited our troops several times over in Iraq and Afghanistan. Give me a break. If your going to pick on him for his lyrics then you should look outside of the country market because I don't listen to rap because of there nasty lyrics.
Give me a break! Historically, every word of this song is fact! I don't think he was trying to be a racist or promoting anything bad. That's what's wrong with our society now!! We are too super sensitive about everything! Get over it! There's no mention of color or race in the song!
Why do we still say things like that & think we're not doing anything wrong??? Is 2008!!! is beyond revolting! Is narrow minded & idiotic!! as an immigrant living in north america (canada that is…sorry 'americans'…you are from the UNITED STATES thats the name of your country YOU DO NOT OWN THE WHOLE CONTINENT!) it saddens me to see that we're still not able to stop being afraid & judging people by the way they look…im a happy 'beaner' living with my 'white french' boyfriend … race diversity is an ADVANTAGE! is cool! it makes us different and more interesting!
This is not tobeys part in the song-it's willie nelson's…talk about him…a legend
Come on, have we not heard of prohabition, mobsters aka gangsters— White— HELLO, you can make anything raciest if you try. Get over it!!