Simple Man (Charlie Daniels song)

"Simple Man", is a song written and recorded by the Charlie Daniels Band that advocates in favor of extrajudicial violence, including lynching. It was released in August 1989 as the lead single from their album of the same name. [1]

This article is about the Charlie Daniels song. For other uses, see Simple Man.
"Simple Man"
Single by Charlie Daniels
from the album Simple Man
B-side"Ill Wind"
ReleasedAugust 1989
GenreSouthern rock, blues rock, hard rock, country rock
Length3:24
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)Charlie Daniels, Taz DiGregorio, Jack Gavin, Charles Hayward
Producer(s)James Stroud
Charlie Daniels singles chronology
"Midnight Train"
(1989)		 "Simple Man"
(1989)		 "Mister DJ"
(1990)

Content

The song is the lament of a self-proclaimed honest man, who expresses frustration at barely getting by despite making an honest living, while dishonest politicians and criminals are allowed to get away with anything. Expressing frustration at a judicial system that he believes is too lenient with drug dealers, rapists and child abusers, he suggests severe forms of extrajudicial justice, such as lynching ("Now if I had my way with people sellin' dope/I'd take a big tall tree and a short piece of rope/I'd hang 'em up high and let 'em swing 'til the sun goes down") and allowing swamp animals such as alligators to eat convicted criminals ("Just take them rascals out in the swamp/Put 'em on their knees and tie 'em to a stump/Let the rattlers and the bugs and the alligators do the rest"). The man blames a society that has forsaken God and as a result has become a lawless society, then reaffirms his support of the death penalty for the most severe crimes ("The Good Book says it so I know it's the truth/An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth").

Music video

The music video was directed by Larry Boothby and premiered in late 1989.

Chart performance
Chart (1989-90) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[2] 15
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[3] 12

References
  1. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
  2. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 6631." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. January 13, 1990. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  3. "Charlie Daniels Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
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