John Rich performs Shutting Detroit Down

by Andrew on January 29, 2009

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An anthem to the working man and a commentary on the current economic times of big bonuses for CEO’s and layoffs for the working man. John Rich says he wrote it in just an hour and you can tell that he wrote it from his heart. Great song. Listen to it and pass this along.

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Tagged as: john rich, john rich shutting detroit down, shutting detroit down

{ 12 comments }

Joanne January 29, 2009 at 5:16 pm: LOVED IT!! Couldn’t have said it better. Those folks in Washington need to get a grip!
Ryan January 29, 2009 at 6:57 pm: As a youth becoming a man, i was born and raised in detroit…i still live there today.. we are barely getting by, people dont have money for food, better schooling or any of the bare necessities in life. but the people in washington and the Big Three executives fail to realize that, and quite frankly they dont care… thats a problem.. im turning 18 soon and i honestly dont see a bright future fot the state of michigan… The mayor of detroit has caused enough trouble, we dont need more problems that will push our great state even further into poverty
Michelle January 30, 2009 at 12:22 am: Thank you, thank you, thank you, Mr Rich. I am a single mother with a mortgage who works for Ford and I am scared to death. The misconceptions out there about auto workers could not be farther from the truth. I wish I had the money that has been reported. I can no longer open a soda bottle because of the pain in my wrists. When I wake from sleep I cannot move my hands. But I take my Motrin and get up and do it again, thats all I ask. God Bless America and the working class!!
DAMN PROUD TO DRIVE AMERICAN!!!
Kim January 30, 2009 at 11:26 pm: John Rich is amazing! what a talent. i don’t know if everyone has
any idea how many songs he has written for himself and for
other country singers.
great song! how true! GOD BLESS AMERICA!
Jennifer January 31, 2009 at 2:01 pm: I have lived in Michigan all of my 34 years, and this state is scared. My mother just came to me and told me about this song…I found it on a few sites and have been fighting back tears since. I believe that what is going on with the auto industry is just a small reflection of the corruption and lack of accountability with many systems in place in this country. I also believe, however, that in order to build a better, more positive structure, the previous must come down…whether it collapses or is taken down intentionally. Hopefully things will not have to get worse before better…
Shawn February 2, 2009 at 6:23 pm: Thank you for writing this song. When did our countries leaders get this screwed up. The things people are being allowed to get away with, not to mention the things the common man is being expected to do doesn’t make any sense. I sure hope the pendulum starts to swing back toward what’s right for the country…I’ve got two girls w/ long lives in front of them…I want them to experience the Michigan I’ve had the chance to experience in my younger years. God Bless America…lets hope God finds the grace to straighten up those in Washington.
Sherry February 2, 2009 at 8:49 pm: Good song showing what Washington D.C. has done to “We the people.” However, while the auto worker’s union has seen to it that “granddaddy” is getting at least half a pension, the rest of us get zero pension. Sorry, but my sympathies go to the workers all over the country that have no pension.
Michelle February 3, 2009 at 8:23 pm: Thats the problem with Americans, if someone has something they don’t, then they dont want you to have it either. Thank God for unions so we may be able to have a pension. We live by the motto “solidarity”, perhaps other Americans might try this.
Lori February 6, 2009 at 9:49 am: My Dad sacrificed many years of his life working for Ford Motor Company. He worked long, hard hours and deserves a pension. His stocks are worth only a fraction of what they were when he retired. Thank God for unions.

Also, just another small plug for Ford – I was in an accident and totaled my Ford Ranger before Christmas. I was able to walk away with only a bruised elbow. When Ford says its vehicles are “built Ford tough” they mean it! Ford is the only vehicle I will ever drive!
carol March 4, 2009 at 4:30 pm: I am a retired IBEW worker living in upstate NY. Yes, the American labor gave us workers good paying jobs but we in turn made this country great. Those greedy CEO should be hung and shame on them for trying to put the blame on the work force.
I fear that we might just head into a depression. This song makes me think of some Depression era songs and if we have come around to having songs about the economy you know things are really tough out there.
Lindsey April 3, 2009 at 2:13 pm: If you like this song, Del McCoury gathered up some of his friends including Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris and Bruce Hornsby and put out an entire record last year on the state of the American economy. Check out Moneyland here http://www.mccourymusic.net/index.cfm.
SuzanneDevlin April 11, 2009 at 12:07 pm: Too bad John Rich campaigned for conservative Republicans last year. John like a lot of so-called “Good Christians” who also don’t mind making money off exploiting (Christian Rock) religion or hard times.

If Mr. Rich were really sincere, he would donate every penny off this song to those in Detroit who’ve lost their jobs.

He even exploits the fact that he’s “son of a preacher” Somehow I don’t think Jesus Christ would give his blessing to these hypocrites using his name to make a buck. And John drops that bit of information all the time.

John Rich also was a big supporter of the invasion of Iraq and still supports our staying there. H should have also mentioned the creeps who ran this country to the ground…..bush/Cheney and the Republican Party….yet he still describes himself as a conservative Republican even after te damage that’s been inflicted on the entire world due to greed and corruption.

That’s who John Rich is.

This man like others in Country music who have exploited “patriotism” in their songs have never served and never donated the money from these particular songs to those who suffered and became homeless after hurricanes and tornadoes destroyed their lives and livlihood.