I'm not a great country music fan, although my tastes in music are otherwise wide ranging. Country artists, and many country music fans, tend to be fairly conservative in their politics. Songs and artists which espouse a differing point of view often suffer a loss of popularity and lack of radio play, as the Dixie Chicks learned the hard way after their lead singer made comments criticizing President Bush last year during an appearance in London.

However, there are some country music fans and artists who do agree that it's time for a change, and aren't afraid to put their thoughts into song. One such tune is called "Takin' My Country Back". Their site has a free download of the song in various formats. There are no writer's credits, only a credit to "Honky Tonkers For Truth". Here are the lyrics:

TAKIN' MY COUNTRY BACK

Country music's got mommas and daddys
We got barrooms and old heartbreak songs
But I'm hear today to stand up and say
How I feel about my home sweet home
What's left, what's right and what's wrong...and

I'm takin' my country back
Son, you ain't been doin' her right
Oh, I been watchin' you and I don't like
How you've been treatin' my Stars and Stripes
You took our jobs and sent 'em overseas
Now we owe billions to the Red Chinese
You blew the budget and you botched Iraq
So I'm takin' my country back.

We had a bundle in the treasury drawer
More than there had ever been before
But every day we're drownin' deeper in debt
Maybe four years should be all you get
Then you gave tax breaks to the millionaires
And tried to make the workin' man pay
But you can't tax a man when his job's not there
Now look at where we are today...hey

I'm takin' my country back
Son, you ain't been doin' her right
Oh, I been watchin' you and I don't like
How you've been treatin' my Stars and Stripes
You got too many fancy friends for me
The Saudis treat you like you're royalty
You blew the budget and you botched Iraq
Now I'm takin' my country back.

Now I can understand why you were hot
'Cause Ben Laden never did get caught
So you said we had Saddam to blame
Tried to tell us it was all the same
But now the years roll by and our kids keep dyin'
You don't even have a plan to bring 'em home
And those WMDs you promised on TV
Hey, admit it, you figured it wrong...so I'm takin' my country back!

Now you don't know my name, but you know who I am
I'm your everyday work hard, play hard
Raise kids and pray hard common man
And Lord knows I love this land...That's why

I'm takin' my country back
Son, you ain't been treatin' her right
Oh, I been watchin' you and I don't like
How you've been treatin' my Stars and Stripes
You say "Unite" but you divide us more
Cussin' each other on the Senate floor
Ain't we supposed to be above all that?
Hey I'm takin' my country back
I got my family and my church and flag...
Now I'm takin' my country back!