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Still Believe in Jimmy Carter

by Brett Miller

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about

I wrote this song when Jimmy Carter went into hospice care, and after hearing too many people talk about what a terrible president he was. First, this claim usually comes from someone who – let's just say – isn't a Rhodes Scholar, even though "I've done my research" (i.e., parroted all the stupid shit in their newsfeed). Second, it's based on mistaken criteria. The president performs three primary functions: administration, policy leadership, and character leadership. The administrative and policy impacts of a presidency are often unremarkable, at least in comparison to the cultural impact of the person holding the office. The president represents our country to the world, and sets standards and boundaries about what we should value and how we should treat each other – how democracy should work. I don't agree Carter's administration was politically weak, but even if I conceded that point, his character is virtually unparalleled. He was a man of great integrity and kindness: a model for all of us. He was also a person of faith who never became a rank hypocrite. My favorite lyric is

"He still had a faith in a god above
I don't but I have faith in Jimmy's kind of love
Where push doesn't have to come to shove"

Despite what others may say, I still believe in Jimmy Carter.

(My apologies for this track being released before President Carter's death. You have to select a release date through my distributor, and once it's in motion it can't be changed. It was impossible to predict when he would pass, so I just made a guess. I'm glad I was wrong. We got more of him for a little longer.}

lyrics

Lost my religion
But I still believe in Jimmy Carter
He didn’t turn around or walk away
He just started working harder
I’ve still got my doubts about god and faith
Don’t always have hope in the human race
But I will still sing Jimmy's praise

He was kind and kind is good
But anger gets you farther
We’re polarized and telling lies
The truth is getting harder
Well he swore that he'd never be untrue
That he'd never tell a lie to me or you
That he’d try to do the things he said he’d do

What will we do now he’s gone?
How does right ever win over wrong?
It’s hard to know where we belong

He kept working on a building
And teaching from the bible
His face was always full of hope
And his hands were never idle
He still had a faith in a god above
I don't but I have faith in Jimmy’s kind of love
Where push doesn’t have to come to shove

And angry people still don't get it right
All they want to do is fight, fight, fight
But Jimmy's light still burns bright

Lost my religion
But I still believe in Jimmy Carter (2X)

credits

released April 19, 2023
Brett Miller – guitar and vocals
Molly Healey – violin
Barak Hill – bass

Written by Brett Miller (BMI)

Produced by Barak Hill and Brett Miller
Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Barak Hill at Mid-Americana Sound, Springfield, Missouri

Copyright © 2023 Hear, Hear Productions, LLC. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction is a violation of applicable laws.

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Brett Miller Springfield, Missouri

Brett Miller is a singer-songwriter from Springfield, Missouri. After over 15 years writing songs, singing, playing rhythm guitar, and recording three studio albums with his band Brother Wiley (also known as Mincks & Miller), Miller released a solo album of 14 original tracks, recorded and produced by fellow Midwest musician, Barak Hill. ... more

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