Conservative rapper Tom MacDonald released a moving single titled “CHARLIE” in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. The lyrics are mournful but hopeful and MacDonald delivers a song that deserves the acclaim it received.
The song departs from MacDonald’s typical musical style which includes heavy-bass, rap, and mild profanity. “CHARLIE” is a soft acoustic ballad expressing MacDonald’s deep admiration and sorrow for Kirk and his family matching the song’s contemplative and emotional themes.
The opening lyrics sum up the tragic situation in four sentences: “Shot down and he was barely 31… He left behind a wife and a daughter and a son.”
Macdonald gets straight to the point in the opening verse, and it almost catches you off guard. The lyrics remind us how simply awful this event is. A young man, hardly in his thirties was murdered by a deranged leftist. But the assassin didn’t just kill a political pundit; he killed a son, a father, a husband.
MacDonald also balances his sadness with political fatigue. He sings: “And I’m so tired of the hatred and the narratives… They shot and killed the father, sent a message to Americans.”
The weighty subject of Kirk’s death combined with the soft beat of the drums and strumming of the guitar creates a stark musical contrast. It is firm in combating what he believes to be dangerous politics, but remains solemn. After all, MacDonald wants to make sure the song remains a tribute to Kirk as much as anything else. And he walks the line very well.
Later in the song, MacDonald’s lyrics reinforces his fatigue: “And I’m so tired of the left and all the wokery… Scared I might be next to die when I’m just buyin’ groceries.”
These lyrics pull at the heartstrings. MacDonald, brings out the emotion in his voice, and confronts the listener with a hard decision. There is a tension in what he says and what he seems to believe: one the one hand he advocates for free speech. On the other hand, he wonders whether free speech is safe. The lyrics show that politics in America are reaching a boiling point. Still, his harsh words and counternarrative lay over a soft, almost pleasant beat, holding in tension mourning, anger, and fear. He asserts that there is no room for ideas or discussion in a world where individuals think that it is virtuous to assassinate and openly celebrate the deaths of their political opponents. If this open celebration of Kirk’s death goes on without consequences, conservatives really will be in danger even at the grocery store.
MacDonald closes with the lines, “Pray that God will take care of us… And I can’t just be quiet, so I gotta be brave/ ‘Cause this is America, lately it’s scarin’ us/ But one good man can change it all in a day.” Finally, the tension between the lyrics and the music beneath finds a sort of resolution. While things are bad now, and while MacDonald seems to believe things will get better before they get worse, he maintains the hope that America could once again become a great place if those who love it are willing to fight.
MacDonald does an excellent job in celebrating Kirk’s legacy with the heartfelt lyrics that steer clear of sap. The ambient guitar and drums almost make it feel like Kirk is sitting there, right alongside the listener. It is a eulogy, a warning, and a call to hope that many Americans need right now.
