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Newman’s Slurs Show Dirt for What It Is

An old but still pretty relevant article about Newman. I didn't know he wrote "Mama Told Me Not to Come". GREAT song.

Rednecks is as much about racism in the North as in the South at the time it was written:

"… free to be put in a cage in Harlem in New York City
And he’s free to be put in a cage in the South-Side of Chicago, the West-Side
And he’s free to be put in a cage in Hough in Cleveland
And he’s free to be put in a cage in East St. Louis
And he’s free to be put in a cage in Fillmore in San Francisco
And he’s free to be put in a cage in Roxbury in Boston
They’re gatherin’ ’em up from miles around
Keepin’ the n—–s down"

He's a pretty complex guy. Born and spent his early youth in Louisiana so he's also a son of the South. I think he hates the bigoted ugly side of the Deep South but also has an affection for the beauty and kindness that can also be found here. I think a lot of us probably feel that way.

UAB and the Birmingham of 2021 stand against everything that song was about. If we co opt a really nice CHORUS about the town, I think it is just us taking ownership of our past in OUR own way. Things have changed and we can at least make the meaning of that one line change.
I think if asked, Randy might just approve.

Or just cut it. I really don't give a ****.