This song went viral, but here’s why Christians should be cautious about it

After a song about poverty and disenfranchisement went viral recently, making Christian singer-songwriter Oliver Anthony an overnight celebrity, Jared Stacy explains why it falls short of being a true biblical protest song

Virginia-born Oliver Anthony became an overnight hit recently after his song, ’Rich men north of Richmond’, went viral. The song – a working-class protest ballad – shot to the top of the charts a few weeks ago in the States.

The song voices the plight of a particular class and community in American society, but has divided opinion, because some say it relies on recycled tropes and conspiracy theories. Anthony criticises obese people on benefits – “Taxes ought not pay for your bag of fudge rounds” – and seems to make use of conspiracy theories, such as those peddled by QAnon, to describe the corruption of political elites – “I wish politicians would look out for miners, and not just minors on an island somewhere”.