Brad Paisley Explains “Accidental Racist”

When Brad Paisley’s “Accidental Racist” (featuring LL Cool J) was leaked on YouTube, there was a lot of blowback. For all the coverage the clunky, race-relations-in-the-South-themed song received, one would have to look far and wide to find a positive review. “Imagine what it was like to be for a week or two,” Paisley tells the alt-weekly Nashville Scene in their new cover story.

The country star explained the song’s origins, which began when Paisley showed a visiting Cool J around Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The revered Nashville venue and original home of the Grand Ole Opry was built in part by confederate soldiers in the late 1800’s.

The day we really began it, I said, “I think LL is the perfect guy to do this.” Because you want someone that is so respected and so non-controversial to do this. … I kind of would consider myself in some ways similar to him, in the sense that that’s the first time I’d ever seen controversy under my name. I played him the song after seeing the Ryman, which is really crazy. To tour the Ryman, stand out on the stage, look at the Confederate Gallery on the balcony and him turn to me — not knowing, by the way, what I’m wanting to write — and say, “What kind of country is it that you and I can stand here, after everything we’ve been through, together?” I said, “Well, you need to come hear what I’m thinkin’.” And he wrote his verses. When we did it, I thought, “OK, this is going to ruffle a few feathers, but I have a lot of faith in my audience that they’re willing to have a discussion.” Because country audiences are actually really used to paying attention to the words.

Earlier this month, ex-Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines complained that country music lyrics lack subtletly.

Has “Accidental Racist” grown on you? Or is it destined to remain a Late Night TV punch line? Let us know in the comments.