LogFAQs > #975077356

KanWan posted...

Snoop and Willie Nelson hang out a bunch

The "I have a black friend" defence is handled, then ;)

Nah, just kidding. I actually had to research Willie Nelson after I saw this topic, because I listen to him. Apparently the song Beer for my Horses with Toby Keith has been drawn into the discussion about racist songs because of these lyrics:

Grandpappy told my pappy, back in my day, son
A man had to answer for the wicked that he done
Take all the rope in Texas find a tall oak tree
Round up all them bad boys, hang them high in the street
For all the people to see

&

We got too many gangsters doing dirty deeds
Too much corruption, and crime in the streets
It's time the long arm of the law put a few more in the ground
Send 'em all to their maker and he'll settle 'em down
You can bet he'll set 'em down

Willie Nelson responds to the allegations that there were no racism implications from their side and that he wouldn't have joined the song if there was. I choose to believe him :)

When I hear this song I just imagine old western movies and stuff from Red Dead Redemption, where it's basically white guys getting hanged, so I never thought that it could be construed as racist. Just reflecting on it now, if it was an artist that had a racist history, I could totally see this being something to be wary of.

I think it's important to look at history of the artist to understand the possible intentions. I don't think Willie fits the description for it to be a racist dog whistle.