Take a Knee, My Ass (I Won't Take a Knee)

Last updated
"Take a Knee, My Ass (I Won't Take a Knee)"
Take a knee my ass.jpg
Single by Neal McCoy
ReleasedNovember 10, 2017 (2017-11-10)
Genre
Length3:00
Label Nealbilly Music 903
Songwriter(s) Dan Roberts
Producer(s) Unknown
Neal McCoy singles chronology
"Can You Do This"
(2014)
"Take a Knee, My Ass (I Won't Take a Knee)"
(2017)

"Take a Knee, My Ass (I Won't Take a Knee)" (stylized as Take a Knee... My Ass!) is a song recorded by American country music artist Neal McCoy, and was released on November 10, 2017. The song conveys McCoy's self-avowed patriotism, as well as his displeasure towards football players protesting police brutality during the national anthem.

Contents

Background

McCoy stated that "Take a Knee, My Ass" was made in response to American football players' kneeling during the national anthem; McCoy found the footballers' actions disrespectful. [1] [2] However, McCoy said that he empathised with their cause. [3] He also intended for the song to "bring people together". [2]

Dan Roberts, who was a fellow country singer and McCoy's friend, wrote the original lyrics of "Take a Knee, My Ass". [2] McCoy claimed to have edited out some lyrics that were more "uncomfortable for me" and "more race-oriented". [2] Before recording the song, McCoy performed it live at a concert in Missouri. [4]

Release and reception

I’ve entertained our troops in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and all over the world. So, no, this is not a money grab. This is a guy that believes in our country, that does not like people kneeling, not standing with their hands over their hearts, for the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem. That’s what I’m about.

—Neal McCoy [1]

"Take a Knee, My Ass" was released on November 10, 2017, [5] to commercial success; it peaked at no. 4 on Amazon's and iTunes digital country songs charts. [6] It also reached the Top 50 of Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart and was described as McCoy's "revival" hit. [7]

However, the song was not favourably received by critics, many of whom criticised McCoy's mischaracterisation of kneeling during the anthem as disrespectful towards the military. [1] [8] Sean Newell of Vice Sports described it as "dumb, disingenuous, and devoid of any redeeming qualities" and derided its rhyme scheme and melody. [1] Rachel Kraus of Mashable called the song "trash", and wrote that "(it) represents the most insidious form of bigotry masked as patriotism. It's simplistic, divisive, and wrong-headed." [8] William Hughes of The A.V. Club said of the song, "(it) sounds, to the casual listener, like McCoy is ordering his own buttocks to drop to the ground and pay their ass-y respects." [9]

Chart history

Chart (2017)Peak
position
Country Digital Download Sales (Billboard) [10] 19
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [11] 49

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabel
United States [5] 10 November 2017 Digital download Nealbilly Music 903

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Van McCoy</span> American musician, producer and songwriter (1940–1979)

Van Allen Clinton McCoy was an American record producer, arranger, songwriter and singer. He is known for his 1975 internationally successful hit "The Hustle". He has approximately 700 song copyrights to his credit, and produced songs by such recording artists as Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Stylistics, Aretha Franklin, Brenda & the Tabulations, David Ruffin, Peaches & Herb, Lesley Gore, and Stacy Lattisaw.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neal McCoy</span> American country music singer

Hubert Neal McGaughey Jr., known professionally as Neal McCoy and previously as Neal McGoy, is an American country music singer. He has released 10 studio albums on various labels, and has released 34 singles to country radio. Although he first charted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1988, he did not reach the top 40 for the first time until 1992's "Where Forever Begins", which peaked at number 40. McCoy broke through two years later with the back-to-back number one singles "No Doubt About It" and "Wink" from his platinum-certified album No Doubt About It. Although he has not topped the country charts since, his commercial success continued into the mid to late 1990s with two more platinum albums and a gold album, as well as six more top 10 hits. A ninth top 10 hit, the number 10 "Billy's Got His Beer Goggles On", came in 2005 from his self-released That's Life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby I'm Yours (Barbara Lewis song)</span> 1965 single by Barbara Lewis

"Baby I'm Yours" is a song written by Van McCoy which was a hit in 1965 for Barbara Lewis, the original recording artist. The song was featured in the 1995 film The Bridges of Madison County and was included on the soundtrack album. It was also featured in the TV movies The Midnight Hour (1985) and An American Crime (2007), as well as being briefly featured in Baby Driver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faith Hill discography</span>

American country music singer Faith Hill has released seven studio albums, four compilation albums, and 46 singles. All of Hill's studio albums have been certified Gold or higher by the Recording Industry Association of America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vince Gill discography</span>

The discography of albums and singles released by American country music artist Vince Gill comprises 18 studio albums, 16 compilation albums and one extended play. Between 1985 and 2017, Gill has charted 67 songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, including seven that reached number one.

<i>At This Moment</i> (Neal McCoy album) 1990 studio album by Neal McCoy

At This Moment is the debut studio album by American country music artist Neal McCoy, released on November 20, 1990 on Atlantic Records Nashville. "If I Built You a Fire", "Hillbilly Blue" and "This Time I Hurt Her More " were all released as singles from this album. Although "Hillbilly Blue" did not chart, the other two singles both entered the lower regions of the Hot Country Songs charts. "If I Built You a Fire" was a Top 20 country hit in Canada as well.

<i>You Gotta Love That!</i> 1995 studio album by Neal McCoy

You Gotta Love That! is the fourth studio album by American country music artist Neal McCoy, released in 1995 via Atlantic Records. It includes the singles "For a Change", "They're Playin' Our Song", "If I Was a Drinkin' Man", and the title track. Of these, all but "If I Was a Drinkin' Man" were Top 5 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wink (song)</span> 1994 single by Neal McCoy

"Wink" is a song written by Bob DiPiero and Tom Shapiro, and recorded by American country music singer Neal McCoy. It was released in April 1994 as the second single from his album No Doubt About It. Also the second consecutive Number One from that album, "Wink" spent four weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in June and July of that year. In 1996, the song received the Robert J. Burton award from Broadcast Music Incorporated for being the most-performed country song of the year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neal McCoy discography</span>

The discography of Neal McCoy, an American country music singer, consists of 10 studio albums, two compilation albums and 39 singles. Two of his singles, "No Doubt About It" and "Wink" both reached number one on the Billboard country charts, and seven more reached top ten. His albums No Doubt About It and You Gotta Love That are both certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and his 1996 self-titled album is certified gold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye</span> Song written by John D. Loudermilk

"Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" is a song written by John D. Loudermilk. It was first released in 1962 by Don Cherry, as a country song and again as a doo-wop in 1967 by the group The Casinos on its album of the same name, and was a number 6 pop hit that year. The song has since been covered by Eddy Arnold, whose version was a number 1 country hit in 1968, and by Neal McCoy, whose version became a Top 5 country hit in 1996.

"You're My Jamaica" is a song written by Kent Robbins, and recorded by American country music artist Charley Pride. It was released in July 1979 as the first single and title track from the album You're My Jamaica. The song was Pride's twenty-second number one country hit. The single stayed at number one for one week and spent a total of ten weeks on the country chart.

"You Gotta Love That" is a song written by Jess Brown and Brett Jones, and recorded by American country music artist Neal McCoy. It was released in January 1996 as the fourth single from his album You Gotta Love That. The song reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in April 1996.

"For a Change" is a song written by John Scott Sherrill and Steve Seskin, and recorded by American country music artist Neal McCoy. It was released in December 1994 as the first single from his album You Gotta Love That. The song reached number 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and peaked at number 8 on the RPM Country Tracks in Canada.

"The City Put the Country Back in Me" is a song written by Mike Geiger, Woody Mullis and Michael Huffman, and recorded by American country music artist Neal McCoy. It was released in July 1994 as the third single from his album No Doubt About It. The song reached number 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and number 11 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Country Must Be Country Wide</span> 2011 single by Brantley Gilbert

"Country Must Be Country Wide" is a song co-written and recorded by American country rock singer Brantley Gilbert. It was released in April 2011 as the first single from the deluxe edition of his 2010 album Halfway to Heaven.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ass Back Home</span> 2011 single by Gym Class Heroes

"Ass Back Home" is a song by American group Gym Class Heroes featuring British singer-songwriter Neon Hitch. The song was first released on October 31, 2011, as the second single from the group's fifth studio album, The Papercut Chronicles II. The track was co-written and produced by Benny Blanco, who also produced previous hit "Stereo Hearts". "Ass Back Home" became the group's third biggest hit on the Billboard Hot 100 when it peaked at number 12, also reaching number one in Australia, 11 in New Zealand and number 10 in Ireland.

"If I Was a Drinkin' Man" is a song written by Byron Hill and J.B. Rudd, and recorded by American country music artist Neal McCoy. It was released in August 1995 as the third single from the album You Gotta Love That. The song reached #16 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.S. national anthem kneeling protests</span> Series of protests by American athletes

Beginning in August 2016, some American athletes have protested against a variety of perceived injustices in the United States by kneeling on one knee while the U.S. national anthem is played. Beginning in 2017, many players also protested against President Donald Trump's criticisms of those involved in the protest, and some against Trump's policies during his time in office. Some observers have described the protests as being politically motivated and/or patriotic and they have also praised the players' social awareness, while others have criticized the drawing of attention to social issues during sporting events, and they have also called the protests unpatriotic or disrespectful. The act itself has become widely referred to as "taking the knee" or "taking a knee".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taking the knee</span> Symbolic gesture protesting racism

Taking the knee is a symbolic gesture against racism whereby an individual kneels upon one knee in place of standing to attention for an anthem or other such occasion. It was originated by American football player Colin Kaepernick on September 1, 2016, in protest against the lack of attention given to the issues of racial inequality and police brutality in the United States. Kaepernick's protest led to a wider series of national anthem protests. It has since been adopted by sports players in countries around the world, including association football in the United Kingdom, in solidarity with Kaepernick's protest against racism, and has been seen worldwide in non-sporting contexts such as the Black Lives Matter protests.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Newell, Sean (November 20, 2017). "Here is a Song Called 'Take a Knee, My Ass (I Won't Take a Knee)'". Vice Sports.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Kang, Jay Caspian (December 19, 2017). ""Take a Knee... My Ass" brought this '90s country singer back into the spotlight". Vice News .
  3. Augustn, Carmille (20 November 2017). "Country Singer Neal McCoy Under Fire For 'Take A Knee… My Ass' Song". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  4. Tyree, Elizabeth (November 15, 2017). "Country star creates song taking aim at kneeling during National Anthem". WSET.
  5. 1 2 "Take a Knee My Ass – Single". iTunes. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  6. Robertson, Valerie (November 20, 2017). "Song about NFL protests, 'Take a Knee My A--,' climbs country-music charts". Washington Times.
  7. Moser, John (April 13, 2018). "Country favorite Neal McCoy, rockers Fuel and Soul Asylum, veteran Dave Mason set for Penn's Peak". The Morning Call.
  8. 1 2 Kraus, Rachel (November 18, 2017). "Country song 'Take A Knee, My Ass' criticizes NFL protests". Mashable.
  9. Hughes, William (November 17, 2017). "Hot new country track "Take A Knee, My Ass (I Won't Take A Knee)" confusingly protests something or other". The A.V. Club. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  10. "Neal McCoy Chart History (Digital Download Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  11. "Neal McCoy Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.