Current country music has me baffled. I’ve read recently if one wishes to know what America thinks about what’s happening in the world, listen to country music.
I can see that. Country music writers are modern day bards. They write about their opinions on politics, (Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue), job stress, (Take this Job and Shove it), patriotism, (I’m proud to be an American), love and loss of love, (He Stopped Loving Her Today).
But lately, I’ve noticed a plethora of songs written about Southern women I’m not so sure about. Song titles notwithstanding, they make us out to be less than essential and somewhat sleazy, like being violent, throwing temper tantrums when not getting our way, alcoholics, and strumpets. I can’t disagree more.
Are these supposed to be ballads? Southern women are the true back bone of Southern hospitality. Books are written about our grandmother’s willingness to open their doors to people in need during the Great Depression. We greet people we don’t know with a smile, take in stray kittens, and fight for what we believe and, yes, most Southern women know how to shoot a gun because we’re fierce in protecting those we love and not afraid of hard work. All of this is true. However, if we need money, we work for it and don’t take hand-outs. We know how to speak our minds when needed and keep our mouths shut when it’s wise. We give advice about life to our children and pray for them every day. We allow our men to open doors for us, knowing gallantry isn’t dead in our men, of whom we have high expectations. Southern women of wisdom know love is not equal to lust and important things in life have nothing to do with wearing short shorts. It’s about setting goals, meeting them and celebrating accomplishments. I don’t mind being called a GRITS girl. It’s mighty cute. But there is a lot more to me than my sweet tea recipe.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Musicians mistaken about GRITS