On Robert Ross’s newest single “Individuals Like Me,” the acquainted clang of barroom guitars and the consolation of a chilly drink converge in a tune that’s not merely a celebration of small-town revelry, however a considerate, subtly political hymn to authenticity. At first look, the monitor would possibly look like one other addition to the ever-growing catalog of consuming songs that populate mainstream nation radio. However dig deeper, and also you’ll discover Ross carving out a extra grounded, human message—one which isn’t about escapism, however about identification, pleasure, and belonging.
Lyrical Reality within the On a regular basis
From the opening line—“Individuals such as you and folks like me, we wish to drink”—Ross introduces us to a world not of caricature, however of communion. The repetition in that phrase, biking again on the finish of every verse, acts like a city sq. bell ringing at closing time: it’s an invocation to all who’ve been neglected, typecast, or underestimated. These aren’t simply individuals who get pleasure from beer or whiskey. These are the welders, farmers, truckers, and repair members who measure value by work, loyalty, and resilience.
Ross isn’t being coy about his mission. He sings, “I could not know rather a lot, by no means gonna be one thing that I’m not,” a line that, in lesser arms, would possibly come off as cliché. However within the mouth of Ross—who delivers it with simply the appropriate tinge of pleasure and defensiveness—it turns into a declaration of creative and private autonomy. His writing doesn’t pander. It tells the reality, even when the reality wears steel-toed boots and clocks in at 5 a.m.
Verses that Construct a Neighborhood
One of many extra compelling turns within the tune arrives within the third verse, the place the narrative widens to acknowledge those that put on a unique form of uniform. “Like that soldier on patrol, the one which may not develop outdated / We elevate our glasses to those that save our ass.” Right here, the consuming isn’t only a pastime—it’s a ritual of recognition. Ross elevates the act of elevating a glass to one thing sacred, weaving gratitude into what might’ve been a easy honky-tonk jam.
He’s not glorifying alcohol; he’s glorifying solidarity. The “consuming” right here is metaphorical as a lot as it’s literal—standing in for each after-shift porch sit, each fireplace pit confession, each shared second of fact between working individuals who have earned their proper to unwind.
A Working-Class Manifesto
Ross’s lyrical building is straightforward, however by no means shallow. He makes use of plain language to craft poetic imagery rooted in sweat and sacrifice. “The proof is within the calluses on my arms,” he affords, pushing towards a tradition that too usually celebrates polish over grit. In doing so, Ross aligns himself not simply with the outlaw nation ethos, however with the lengthy custom of people singers and poets who perceive that fact not often arrives in metaphor—it walks within the door dusty, drained, and carrying Carhartt.
“Individuals Like Me” might not reinvent the nation wheel, nevertheless it doesn’t attempt to. As a substitute, it sharpens its spokes—refining a well-worn theme till it glints with sincerity. In a style the place picture usually overshadows message, Ross reminds us that songs nonetheless matter after they say one thing actual.
This isn’t only a soundtrack for summer time tailgates. It’s a lyrical tribute to those that stay actually, work exhausting, and discover pleasure within the easy act of elevating a glass—to not neglect, however to recollect who they’re.
–Anne Powter
