No, man, the song is definitely about lynching. I just don't see it as being specifically about racist lynching. Just vigilante lynching, in general. Arne's position, I think, is that there's not much difference in his mind. Maybe that case could be made for a lot of folk, however I can't see any evidence of racism in the song itself and I doubt very much that it was the intention of the writers (Mr. Keith and another fellow) or the performers (Mr.s Keith & Nelson). That would be career suicide, if nothing worse.

To me, this song just seems to be a pandering to the redneck-sort-of country market (a raging stereotype, but stereotypes sell) who is feeling frustration with social problems, criminal activity and the apparent inability (or perceived unwillingness) of the legal system to take harsher measures to deal with it. So it looks back to a "simpler" time that our "grandpappy" knew, where life was less complicated and folks "knowed what was what". That's a pretty common theme overall in country music anyway. The fact that things were NEVER that simple or just in the "good ol' days" is usually blissfully ignored, but what else is new? If dumbass songs like those from Toby Keith or Alan Jackson are going to sell, they'll keep putting them out.