Song of the Day 1/31: Randy Newman, “Guilty”
The most quietly devastating song on Randy Newman’s misunderstood album “Rednecks” reveals its protagonist in a moment of drunken self-awareness and self-loathing that goes a long way to explaining his, and by extension the South’s, resentment of the Northerners who look down on them. I thought it would be appropriate for today, given that Republicans have essentially conceded Trump’s, and their own, guilt.
The first recording of the song, which predates the rest of the album, was actually by Bonnie Raitt, who released her version on “Takin’ My Time” in 1973, the year before “Rednecks” came out.
The President is guilty in the Court of Public Opinion. Other guilty verdicts from that Court include O.J., George Zimmerman and Casey Anthony.
What’s the common thread? Two of those cases involved native Floridans, one relocated from CA to FL and one will move from NY to FL after leaving office. Hopefully within a year. I’m staying out of that wacky state.
Just listened to this again. Randy Newman is a nation treasure.
It takes a whole lot of medicine for me to pretend I’m somebody else.