Tyler Childers, much like his contemporaries such as Jason Isbell and Kacey Musgraves, has never been one to shy away from expressing his politics and beliefs quite regularly. Being one of the most prominent liberal voices in the genre, the “Whitehouse Road” singer has never shied away from speaking out on controversial topics.
This, of course, was highlighted most prominently on his 2020 album, Long Violent History. Though eight of the nine songs present on the record were instrumentals, the album’s closer and title track was written in response to the infamous killing of fellow Kentuckian, Breonna Taylor, as well as the prominence of the Black Lives Matter movement making waves through the country at the time.
The song has remained a prominent piece of his discography for many liberal-minded country and Americana listeners, but despite this, it had never been played live. That all changed last night in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Bowl.
Since June 6th, Los Angeles has been the focal point of nearly every news cycle due to the ongoing protests and riots taking place throughout the city. With protesters clashing with the LAPD, ICE agents and the military throughout the past five days, Los Angeles has become the epicenter of the current conversation on immigration in the country.
With Childers’ upcoming show taking place in the same city, many were speculating what statement the 33-year-old singer/songwriter would make in response to the controversy. This response, of course, was to close his sold-out show with the aforementioned “Long Violent History.”
During the performance, Childers displayed Pastor Martin Niemoller’s 1946 poem, “First They Came,” which was originally written as a condemnation of Nazi Germany post-World War II.
First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
Despite “First They Came” being written in response to Nazi-occupied Germany at the time, the poem has taken on new life in the 21st century for a multitude of different social justice causes. In this case, it’s clear that Childers decided to use both his song and Niemoller’s poem to condemn the current violence being displayed by both ICE agents and, potentially, some violent protesters.
Childers, in typical fashion, gave no prelude or speech before the performance, simply letting the song speak for itself.
Watch here: