Here is a song from the late 70's when people were trying to think about these things well... but before the PC machine had gotten so entrenched that it's mostly rigid risk management now (IMHO).

To me, this song is a good description of someone who does not quite fit the culture of his upbringing, but loves it... leaves it... but not quite ever, fully. I love the sense in the refrain that we can never escape who we essentially are... and that being ourselves can make life a little, well, complicated.

~S~
GOOD OLE BOYS LIKE ME
By Bob McDill as recorded by Don Williams on "Portrait" (1979)

When I was a kid Uncle Remus would put me to bed
With a picture of Stonewall Jackson above my head.
Then Daddy came in to kiss his little man
With gin on his breath and a Bible in his hand.
He talked about honor and things I should know,
Then he'd stagger a little as he went out the door.

CHORUS: I can still hear the soft southern winds in the live oak trees.
And those Williams boys they still mean a lot to me-- Hank and Tennessee.
I guess we're all gonna be what we're gonna be.
So what do you do with good ole boys like me?

Nothing makes a sound in the night like the wind does,
But you ain't afraid if you're washed in the blood like I was.
Smell of Cape Jasmine through the window screen;
John R. and the Wolfman kept me company
By the light of the radio by my bed
With Thomas Wolfe whispering in my head. CHORUS

When I was in school I ran with a kid down the street
And I watched him burn himself up on bourbon and speed.
But I was smarter than most, and I could choose;
Learned to talk like the man on the six o'clock news.
When I was eighteen, Lord, I hit the road,
But it really doesn't matter how far I go. CHORUS


SH