Ain't I Right

"Ain't I Right" is an American anti-communist propaganda song written, produced, and sung by American singer-songwriter and NASCAR racer Marty Robbins in June 1966. It criticizes the counterculture and anti-war movements, as well as opposition to the Vietnam War and the Left.

History

Written during the rise of American counterculture and opposition to the Vietnam War, "Ain't I Right" accuses counterculture activists and anti-war protestors of being communists and socialists intent on undermining and disrupting American life and values, especially the American war effort in Vietnam, and argues their intent is not to "help the people", but rather to maximize suffering and misery among them.

Robbins describes counterculture and anti-war activists as "a bearded bathless bunch" and "tramps", including "a minister or two" and "a priest, a nun, a rabbi, and an educated man" converted to leftism. Robbins alleges they are supported by "two-faced politicians" that promote draft-card burning and disagreeing with the U.S. government; he makes specific mention of a certain politician suggesting Americans "send some blood" and support North Vietnam, and suggests that the he "keep the blood" and go to Vietnam himself to fight (and die) instead. Robbins argues these politicians make the United States weak, and proposes that they be removed from office in favor of "strong and able leaders" capable of defeating North Vietnam and the American Left, winning the Cold War, and preventing an invasion of the United States by the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc.

Lyrics

Robbins frames the first half of the song around a loose plot detailing leftist activists visiting a town in the American South in an attempt to convert Southerners to leftist ideologies, only to cause trouble and misery before leaving with little care for the town's denizens.

You came down to this Southern town last summer
To show the folks a brand new way of life
But all you've shown the folks around here is trouble
And you've only added misery to their strife
Your concern is not to help the people
And I'll say again, though it's been often said
Your concern is just to bring discomfort, my friend
And your policy is just a little red

Now, ain't I right (Ain't he right?)
(Ain't he right?)

It matters not to you how people suffer
And should they, you'd consider that a gain
You bring a lot of trouble to the town and then you leave
That's part of your Communistic game
I detect a little Communism
I can see it in the things you do
Communism, socialism, call it what you like
There's very little difference in the two

Now, ain't I right (Ain't he right?)
(Ain't he right?)

Your followers sometimes have been a bearded, bathless bunch
There's even been a minister or two
A priest, a nun, a rabbi and an educated man
Have listened and been taken in by you
Ah, the country's full of two-faced politicians
Who encourage you with words that go like this
Burn your draft card if you like, it's good to disagree
That's a get acquainted Communistic kiss

Now, ain't I right (Ain't he right?)
(Ain't he right?)

One politician said it would be nice to send some blood
And help the enemy in Vietnam
That's what he says, here's what I say
Let's just keep the blood
Instead let's send that politician man
Let's rid the country of the politicians
Who call us tramps that march out in our street
Protesting those who wanna fight for freedom, my friend
This kind of leader makes our country weak

Now, ain't I right (Ain't he right?)
(Ain't he right?)

Let's look and find the strong and able leaders
It's time we found just how our neighbors stand
If we're to win this war with Communism
Let's fight it here as well as Vietnam
Let's rise as one and meet our obligations
So Communistic boots will never trod
Across the fields of freedom that were given to us
With the blessing of our great almighty God

Across the fields of freedom that were given to us
With the blessing of our great almighty God