Brad Paisley Lyrics
Accidental Racist Lyrics
(feat. Ll Cool J)
To the man that waited on me at the Starbucks down on Main, I hope you understand
When I put on that t-shirt, the only thing I meant to say is Im a Skynyrd fan
The red flag on my chest somehow is like the elephant in the corner of the south
And I just walked him right in the room
Just a proud rebel son with an ol can of worms
Lookin like I got a lot to learn but from my point of view
Im just a white man comin to you from the southland
Tryin to understand what its like not to be
Im proud of where Im from but not everything weve done
And it aint like you and me can re-write history
Our generation didnt start this nation
Were still pickin up the pieces, walkin on eggshells, fightin over yesterday
And caught between southern pride and southern blame
They called it Reconstruction, fixed the buildings, dried some tears
Were still siftin through the rubble after a hundred-fifty years
I try to put myself in your shoes and thats a good place to begin
But it aint like I can walk a mile in someone elses skin
Cause Im a white man livin in the southland
Just like you Im more than what you see
Im proud of where Im from but not everything weve done
And it aint like you and me can re-write history
Our generation didnt start this nation
And were still paying for mistakes
That a bunch of folks made long before we came
And caught between southern pride and southern blame
Dear Mr. White Man, I wish you understood
What the world is really like when youre livin in the hood
Just because my pants are saggin doesnt mean Im up to no good
You should try to get to know me, I really wish you would
Now my chains are gold but Im still misunderstood
I wasnt there when Shermans March turned the south into firewood
I want you to get paid but be a slave I never could
Feel like a new fangled Django, dodgin invisible white hoods
So when I see that white cowboy hat, Im thinkin its not all good
I guess were both guilty of judgin the cover not the book
Id love to buy you a beer, conversate and clear the air
But I see that red flag and I think you wish I wasnt here
Im just a white man
(If you dont judge my do-rag)
Comin to you from the southland
(I wont judge your red flag)
Tryin to understand what its like not to be
Im proud of where Im from
(If you dont judge my gold chains)
But not everything weve done
(Ill forget the iron chains)
it aint like you and me can re-write history
(Cant re-write history baby)
Oh, Dixieland
(The relationship between the Mason-Dixon needs some fixin)
I hope you understand what this is all about
(Quite frankly Im a black Yankee but Ive been thinkin about this lately)
Im a son of the new south
(The past is the past, you feel me)
And I just want to make things right
(Let bygones be bygones)
Where all thats left is southern pride
(RIP Robert E. Lee but Ive gotta thank Abraham Lincoln for freeing me, know what I mean)
Its real, its real
Its truth