For a lot of people, country music and patriotism go hand in hand. Thanks to songs like Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless The U.S.A.,” country music earned a reputation as a flag-waving, blue-blooded bastion of American pride.

And they’re not wrong. But what few folks realize is that country music has always been a home to protest music and political rallying cries, too. In fact, country music champions individual liberties, equality and peace as much as it honors American troops and small-town living. Here is another political country song .
John Rich — Shuttin’ Detroit Down

John Rich co-wrote “Shuttin’ Detroit Down” after seeing repeated news stories about the decline of the auto industry in Michigan. He takes a strong anti-bank stance, aiming his pen at the banks who received federal bailouts under then-President George W. Bush. He contrasts it with all the people losing their jobs, particular auto workers and farmers. Kris Kristofferson and Mickey Rourke even starred in the video. Washington eventually bailed out the auto industry too, first with a temporary fix initiated by Bush and later with a comprehensive plan put into place by Barack Obama. Though unpopular at the time, the bailout eventually revitalized the United States auto industry.