Ain't I Right
"Ain't I Right" | ||||
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Single by Marty Robbins | ||||
Released | June 1966 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 3:18 | |||
Songwriter(s) | Marty Robbins | |||
Producer(s) | Marty Robbins | |||
Marty Robbins singles chronology | ||||
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"Ain't I Right" is a political country song written, produced, and sung by Marty Robbins in June 1966.[1] Heavily anti-communist in nature, the song criticizes the counterculture of the 1960s and anti-war movements, opposition to the Vietnam War, and the American Left.[2]
Lyrical content
Written during the rise of American counterculture and opposition to the Vietnam War, "Ain't I Right" accuses counterculture activists and anti-war protestors of being communists and socialists (which the song states are essentially the same thing) intent on undermining and disrupting American life and values, especially the American war effort in Vietnam, and argues their intent is not to "help the people", but rather to maximize suffering and misery among them.[3]
Robbins describes counterculture and anti-war activists as "a bearded bathless bunch" and "tramps", including "a minister or two" and "a priest, a nun, a rabbi, and an educated man" converted to leftism. Robbins alleges they are supported by "two-faced politicians" that promote draft-card burning and disagreeing with the U.S. government; he makes specific mention of a certain politician suggesting Americans "send some blood" and support North Vietnam, and suggests that the politician "keep the blood" and go to Vietnam himself to fight (and die) instead. Robbins argues these politicians make the United States weak, and proposes that they be removed from office in favor of "strong and able leaders" capable of defeating North Vietnam and the American Left, winning the Cold War, and preventing an invasion of the United States by the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc.[3][4]
Robbins frames the first half of the song around a loose plot detailing leftist activists visiting a town in the Southern United States in an attempt to convert Southerners to leftist ideologies, only to cause trouble and misery before leaving with little care for the town's denizens.[3]
Reception
When the song was made, Columbia Records refused to release it, stating that it was too provocative and political.[2][4] Other artists published covers of the song, such as Robbins's backup singer Bobby Sykes, who recorded it under the name of Johnny Freedom;[5] and Autry Inman.[6]
References
- ^ "Marty Robbins alphabetical song list at Tunecaster". tunecaster.com. Retrieved 2022-02-07.
- ^ a b Kephart, Zackary (2019-08-15). "Pop Goes The Country Vol. 32: Johnny Cash – "A Boy Named Sue" (1969)". The Musical Divide. Retrieved 2022-02-07.
- ^ a b c "Marty Robbins - Ain't I Right". lyricsjonk.com. Retrieved 2022-02-07.
- ^ a b "Marty Robbins: "Ain't I Right" (1966)". The Cold War. 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2022-02-07.
- ^ Johnny Freedom - Ain't I Right Retrieved March 1 2022
- ^ Autry Inman - Ballad of Two Brothers Retrieved March 1 2022
- v
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- The Song of Robbins (1957)
- Song of the Islands (1958)
- Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs (1959)
- More Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs (1960)
- Return of the Gunfighter (1963)
- R.F.D. (1964)
- The Drifter (1966)
- Tonight Carmen (1967)
- I Walk Alone (1968)
- It's a Sin (1969)
- My Woman, My Woman, My Wife (1970)
- Today (1972)
- This Much a Man (1972)
- El Paso City (1976)
- Adios Amigo (1977)
- The Performer (1979)
- "Stairway of Love"
- "I'll Go On Alone"
- "I Couldn't Keep from Crying"
- "That's All Right"
- "Maybellene"
- "Singing the Blues"
- "Knee Deep in the Blues"
- "A White Sport Coat"
- "Ain't I Right"
- "The Story of My Life"
- "Just Married"
- "She Was Only Seventeen"*
- "The Hanging Tree"
- "El Paso"
- "Big Iron"
- "Don't Worry"
- "Devil Woman"
- "Ruby Ann"
- "Begging to You"
- "Ribbon of Darkness"
- "Tonight Carmen"
- "I Walk Alone"
- "It's a Sin"
- "My Woman, My Woman, My Wife"
- "Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got)"
- "El Paso City"
- "Among My Souvenirs"
- "I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)"
- "Return to Me"
- "Some Memories Just Won't Die"
- "Tie Your Dream to Mine"
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