The singer Oliver Anthony, whose track “Rich Men North of Richmond” has soared to the govern of the Billboard singles chart, released a YouTube video on Friday denouncing Republicans and conservative retailers for co-opting his track.

“It was funny seeing that presidential debate,” Anthony stated. “I wrote that song about those people.”

A clip of Anthony acting was once performed by means of Fox Information moderators initially of the Republican presidential debate on Wednesday night time in Milwaukee, nearest a layout of movies of American citizens lamenting statuses underneath President Biden, together with inflation and homelessness.

The clip confirmed Anthony — with guitar in hand and two canine at his toes — making a song: “These rich men north of Richmond / Lord knows they all just wanna have total control.”

The track, which Anthony uploaded to YouTube earlier this month, had stuck hearth with conservative figures like Matt Walsh and Laura Ingraham, who described it as an unique tone of working-class American occasion. Broadly perceived as a conservative anthem, it additionally drew opinions from some at the left, who called the lyrics racist.

On the debate, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida was once the primary to reply to a query asking why the track had struck a chord with such a lot of American citizens.

“Our country is in decline,” Mr. DeSantis stated. “This decline is not inevitable. It’s a choice.” He added, “Those rich men north of Richmond have put us in this situation.”

Anthony stated Friday it “cracks me up” that the applicants were pressured to hear his track onstage, as a result of he was once making a song about robust public like them.

The pristine video confirmed him at the back of the wheel of his truck, as bulky raindrops pelted the home windows. “That song has nothing to do with Joe Biden,” he stated. “You know, it’s a lot bigger than Joe Biden.”

Anthony, who’s from Farmville, Va., additionally stated that he was once bored to death by means of what he seemed to be the weaponization of his tune by means of each the best and left.

“It’s aggravating seeing people on conservative news try to identify with me like I’m one of them,” he stated. “I see the right, trying to characterize me as one of their own. And I see the left trying to discredit me.”

The left, he added, had misinterpreted his lyrics as being assaults at the unpriviledged when, he stated, he was once looking to shield them. “I’ve got to be clear that my message like with any of my songs, it references the inefficiencies of the government.”

Reason why, a libertarian brochure, had lauded what it perceived as Anthony’s anti-tax message. However kind commentators were troubled by means of a lyric in regards to the “obese milkin’ welfare.” The community singer Billy Bragg even wrote his own version of the track and cautioned Anthony about punching ill.

In the beginning, Anthony perceived to welcome the eye from conservatives. He granted Fox Information the best to significance it within the debate, Politico reported. And he gave an interview to the community, pronouncing that he were progressive to jot down the track as a result of his personal struggles, which he assumed have been shared by means of others.

“It resonates the suffering in our world right now, like even in our own country,” he stated after. “We’ve had years of people feeling depressed and hopeless and every time you look at the T.V. or get online everything’s negative.” He added that “corporate media and education” had helped to sow section.

Anthony returned to that theme in his video on Friday, pronouncing that regardless of how it’s going to seem, his tune had if truth be told united public.

“It’s driving people crazy to see the unity that’s come from this from all walks,” Anthony stated. “This isn’t a Republican and Democrat thing. This isn’t even a United States thing. Like, this has been a global response.”

Anthony, who may just no longer straight away be reached for an interview on Friday night time, described himself as a “nobody” who via some divine intervention were tasked with sending a message that issues had to trade. Earlier than his meteoric stand to status, he was once an unknown songwriter. Even though he plays as Oliver Anthony, his complete identify is Christopher Anthony Lunsford.

“I don’t know what this country is going to look like in 10 or 20 years if things don’t change,” he stated. “I don’t know what this world is going to look like. And like, something has to be done about it. You know?”