Overnight music sensation Oliver Anthony has revealed the inspiration behind his chart-topping hit song ‘Rich Men North of Richmond.’ 

The blue-collar singing star said he hopes his song will prompt Americans to realize that ‘the federal government is not going to save us,’ he told The Free Press in an interview on Thursday.  

The viral country track, which was released on YouTube less than two weeks ago, has skyrocketed to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart – making Anthony the first artist ever to rise to the top without any prior charting history. 

Through his song, he aimed to convey to the public that relying on someone in government will not fix their lives, the country singer emphasized to The Free Press. 

‘What I want out of this for the general public its for people to stop relying on someone 150 or 500 miles away from them to solve their problems for them,’ he added.  

Oliver Anthony has revealed the inspiration behind his chart-topping hit song ‘Rich Men North of Richmond.’ He said he hopes his song will prompt Americans to realize that ‘the federal government is not going to save us,’ in a Free Press interview on Thursday

‘Like nobody is Washington, DC, no one in the federal government is coming to save us,’ he added. 

Anthony stressed the importance of forming relationships and bonds within local communities, stating: ‘The people that are going to save us is each other, local relationships.’ 

He also noted the troubling trend of increasing disconnect, even among families. 

‘Even families are torn apart.. I’ve seen this in my old household at times where you’ll  have a whole family under the same roof and instead of spending time with each other and caring about each there, every one of them is just sitting there looking at their own piece of technology, completely self absorbed in that and not in each other.’ 

In his view, this detachment lies at the core of the issue in communities across America. 

‘That’s the real problem. We are very disconnected  from each other just on a community level.’ 

The factory worker from Farmville, Virginia, has bested the Beatles and Elvis after his self-penned song attacking politicians drew 17.5 million streams and 147,000 downloads in the last week.

The song captivated millions of disenchanted listeners and has seen Anthony hailed as a hero by conservative commentators already excited by the chart-topping success of Jason Aldean’s Try That in a Small Town.

Oliver Anthony had plenty to smile about at his free concert in North Carolina at the weekend

Top of the pops: The country anthem has stormed ahead of offerings from Dua Lipa and Taylor Swift

The song, released in early August, is sitting at the top of the Apple Music charts 

Hundreds turned out to see Anthony at his free concert days before he stormed to the top of the charts

The factory worker lives with his dog on a smallholding outside Farmville 

The song, released in early August, is sitting at the top alongside notable names like Taylor Swift, Doja Cat, Travis Scott, and fellow country singer Morgan Wallen.

‘Rich Men North of Richmond’ has gained mass notoriety for its ‘bone-chilling’ portrayal of life for the ‘average man’ in the United States.

Lyrics include: ‘Lord, it’s a damn shame / What the world’s gotten to / For people like me and people like you / Wish I could just wake up and it not be true.’

The music video for the song, which includes Anthony strumming a guitar and singing soulfully to camera, has amassed more than 18 million views in a week.

‘The universal thing I see is no matter how much effort they put into whatever it is they’re doing, they can’t quite get ahead because the dollar’s not worth enough, they are being over-taxed,’ Anthony said.

‘I want to be a voice for those people. And not just them, but humans in general,’ the singer-songwriter explained of ‘Rich Men North of Richmond.’

‘As long as you’re above the dirt, you’ve got a fightin’ chance,’ he continued.

On Spotify, the song has captured nearly 6 million listens in just five days.

He credits one of his biggest influences as Hank Williams Jr

He could be a rich man south of Richmond if merchandising sales take off

The populist anthem has already attracted a legion of devoted followers 

It is also currently being predicted as a contender to hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart come late August.

The tune has been adopted as the ‘working class anthem’ by many conservatives while some progressives have remained skeptical due to its lyrics.

The song touches on human trafficking of children, even alluding to late billionaire Jeffrey Epstein and his illicit activities involving minors.

‘I wish politicians looked out for miners and not just minors on an island,’ Anthony sings in the song, which is just over three minutes long.

The singer also touches on out-of-touch politicians, high taxes, and those who take advantage of the system by ‘milking welfare.’

‘Lord, we got folks in the street, ain’t got nothing to eat and the obese milking welfare,’ he sings. ‘Well God, if you’re 5-foot-3 and you’re 300 pounds, taxes ought not to pay for your bags of fudge rounds.’

Its message has been amplified by major voices including Fox News’ Laura Ingraham and popular podcast host Joe Rogan.

The song was also mentioned in the first question during Wednesday’s Republican debate in Milwaukee.  

Earlier this week, Anthony released a new song titled ‘I Want To Go Home.’ The hit features similar messages and uses a bible verse at the end

Earlier this week, Anthony released a new song titled ‘I Want To Go Home.’ The hit features similar messages and uses a bible verse at the end. 

‘Every day living in this new world is one too many days to me,’ Anthony sings.

‘Son, we’re on the brink of the next World War and I don’t think nobody’s praying no more. 

‘And I ain’t saying I know it for sure I’m just down on my knees, begging the Lord to take me home. I want to go home.’

He adds: ‘Seven generations farming the ground, grandson sells it to a man from out of town.

‘Two weeks later the trees go down, only got concrete growing around.’ 

The singer closes the music video of his latest song with the verse Mark 8:36 from the Bible.

It reads: ‘For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?’