Rednecks
Randy Newman
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Last night I saw Lester Maddox on a TV show With some smart a** New York Jew And the Jew laughed at Lester Maddox And the audience laughed at Lester Maddox too Well he may be a fool but he's our fool If they think they're better than him they're wrong So I went to the park and I took some paper along And that's where I made this song We talk real funny down here We drink too much and we laugh too loud We're too dumb to make it in no Northern town And we're keepin' the n*****s down We got no necked oilmen from Texas And good ol' boys from Tennessee And colleges men from LSU Went in dumb, come out dumb too Hustlin' 'round Atlanta in their alligator shoes Gettin' drunk every weekend at the barbecues And they're keepin' the n*****s down We are rednecks, we're rednecks We don't know our a** From a hole in the ground We're rednecks, we're rednecks And we're keeping the n*****s down Now your northern n*****'s a negro You see he's got his dignity Down here we're too ignorant to realize That the North has set the n***** free Yes he's free to be put in a cage In Harlem in New York City And he's free to be put in a cage On the South Side of Chicago And 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 We're rednecks, we're rednecks We don't know our a** From a hole in the ground We're rednecks, we're rednecks We're keeping the n*****s down We are keeping the n*****s down
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Written by: RANDY NEWMAN
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Song Concept"Rednecks" is a song written and performed by Randy Newman as a satirical commentary on racism and ignorance in the southern United States.
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AlbumThe song is from Newman's album "Good Old Boys," released in 1974.
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Controversial LyricsThe lyrical content of "Rednecks" has sparked controversy due to its explicit language and strong racial themes.
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Social CommentaryDespite the provocative lyrics, the song is a sociopolitical statement. It criticizes the racial prejudice in the South and the hypocrisy of the North thinking themselves superior while having their racial issues.
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ReceptionThe song was largely misunderstood upon release, with many critics labeling it as racist. Over time, however, it has become one of Newman’s most respected works.
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Live PerformanceRandy Newman has stated that he often introduces the song in live shows with a disclaimer about its satirical nature.
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Soundtrack AppearanceThe song features in the opening credits of the film "White Man's Burden," which tackled societal racism.
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Results"Rednecks" didn’t chart but it has become one of the key songs in Randy Newman’s catalog; an example of his courage in addressing tough societal issues through song.
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Notable QuotesAn infamous and heavily-discussed line from the song is: "We're rednecks, rednecks, and we don’t know our ass from a hole in the ground."
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InspirationThe song was inspired by segregationist Lester Maddox's appearance on a talk show, which Newman watched.
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Citation
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"Rednecks Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 15 Mar. 2025. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/2821579/Randy+Newman/Rednecks>.
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